Selections for reading 



Agriculture 
Gardening 



1919-1920 




State board of education 
Hartford Connecticut 



'^^ of u. 
JAM 6 1920 



.erf- 

Standards v-vi 



Calendar for gardening 1919-20 



Pupils 



1 Cut pictures and articles from 

subject listed below 

2 Paste into note-books accordi 



month lesson 



Septem'ber 1 



subject 



October 



November 



December 



January 



February 1 



exhibiting garden 

produce 
exhibiting farm 

stock and poultry 
seed corn 
insects 
weeds 
potatoes 

types of potatoes 
plant diseases 
storage of vegetables 
judging corn 
storing corn 
farm accounts 
the farm wood lot 
Connecticut weather 
types of soils 
the movement of 

water in soils 
how humus affects 

soils 
how lime affects 

soils 
families of crops — 

the potato family 
families of crops — 

the cabbage fam- 

families of crops — 
the pulse family 

families of crops — 
other families 
and groups 



month less 
March 1 

2 
3 



April 



3 

4 
May I 
2 
3 
4 
June 1 
2 



July 



August 1 
2 
3 
4 



farm papers about the 

ng to monthly topics 

on subject 

garden planning — seed 
order 

mapping out the garden 

seeding testing — small 
seeds 

seed testing — large seeds 

preparing the garden- 
use of fertilizer 

how to prepare the seed 
bed 

how to plant seed 

how plants are multiplied 

how to control insects 

control of diseases 

weeds 

canning 

thinning vegetables 

why and how to cultivate 
the soil 

tomatoes and potatoes 

succession cropping 

intercropping and com- 
panion cropping 

seed saving — annuals 

summer insects 

selling vegetables 

judging gardens 

seed saving — biennials 



Gardening Supplementary reading 

The bulletins listed below may be secured free of charge 
by writmg to the addresses given. Order by name and number 

1 _ Farmers' bulletins and publications of U S department 
of agriculture— send to your congressman at Washington D C 

2 U S school garden bulletins — send to Director Francis 
department of interior Washington D C 

3 State bulletins— send letter addressed to state college of 
state from which bulletins are requested 

4 War garden bulletins — National war garden commission 
Washington D C 



General gardening 

1 canning cold pack method 

2 canning and drying 

3 canning tomatoes 

4 city and suburban gardening 

5 frames as a factor in truck 

growing 

6 garden leaflets 

7 gardening war 

8 garden home vegetable 

9 garden school 

10 garden small vegetables 

11 hotbeds and cold frames 

12 hotbed construction 



farmers' bulletin 839 ». 

national war garden commission 

farmers' bulletin 521 

farmers' bulletin 936 

farmers' bulletin 460 

U S bureau of the interior 

U S war garden commission 

farmers' bulletin 255 

farmers' bulletin 218 

farmers' bulletin 818 

Colorado bulletin 221 

State of Washington popular bulletin 



13 marketing cantaloupes 

14 marketing parcels post 

15 propagation of plants 

16 saving seeds 

17 testing seeds 



farmers' bulletin 707 

farmers' bulletin 703 

farmers' bulletin 157 

farmers' bulletin 884 

farmers' bulletin 428 



Crops 

1 beans 

2 cabbage 

3 cabbage and cauliflower 

4 early cabbage 

5 carrots 

6 celery 

7 cucumbers 

8 onions 

9 tomatoes 

Fotatocs 

1 hints on growing 

2 lessons on potatoes 

3 good seed and how to pro- 

duce 

4 truck crop potatoes 



farmers' bulletin 289 
farmers' bulletin 433 
State of Washington popular bul- 
letin 110 
Ohio bulletin 252 

State of Washington series I No 12 
farmers' bulletin 282 
farmers' bulletin 254 
Washington popular bulletin 66 
farmers' bulletin 220 



Connecticut extension bulletin 
U S department of agriculture bul- 
letin 784 
farmers' bulletin 533 



farmers' bulletin 407 



Corn 



1 

2 
3 
4 


how to grow an acre of corn 
borer layer corn stalk 
harvesting and storing 
meat corn as a food and 


5 

6 

7 


ways of using it 
pop corn (home) 
pop corn (market) 
planting a more profitable 

method 


8 
9 
10 
11 
12 


school lessons on corn 
seed corn 

production of good seed 
rag-doll seed tester 
testing and germination of 
seed corn 


Diseases 


1 
2 
3 


bean diseases 
cabbage diseases 
cedar rust 



farmers' bulletin 537 
farmers' bulletin 1025 
farmers' bulletin 313 

farmers' bulletin 565 
farmers' bulletin 553 
farmers' bulletin 554 

farmers' bulletin 400 

farmers' bulletin 617 

farmers' bulletin 415 

farmers' bulletin 229 

farmers' bulletin 948 

farmers' bulletin 253 



Colorado bulletin 226 
farmers' bulletin 925 
West Virginia circular 15 



4 


celery root rot 


5 


chestnut diseases 


6 


handbook of diseases 




(very excellent bound) 


7 


onion smut 


8 


potato tuber diseases 


9 


tomato diseases 


10 


watermelon diseases 


11 


white pine bluster rust 


Insects 




1 


melon aphis 


2 


asparagus miner 



3 bean and pea weevil 

4 European corn borer 

5 corn root worms 

6 corn stalk borer 

7 chestnut borer 

8 diseases and insects 

9 garden slugs 

10 army worm 

11 gypsy moth 

12 insects of forest trees 

13 onion thribs 

14 squash vine borer 

15 common white grub 

16 white pine weevil 

Spraying 

1 Bordeaux 

2 charts 

(excellent) 

3 cucumbers and melons 

spraying 

4 materials for control of in- 

sects and diseases 

5 potato insects and diseases 

6 spray practice in garden 

Forestry 

1 chestnut uses killed by dis- farmers' bulletin 582 

ease 

2 marketing woodlot products 

3 nurseries forest for schools 

4 planting forest in Connec- 

ticut 

5 ponder post 

6 preservative treatment for 

farm timber 

7 primary of forestry 

8 trees 
"Facts for farmers" 

a 



Ohio circular 72 
farmers' bulletin 467 
Ohio circular 214 

Massachusetts circular 21 

544 

Massachusetts bulletin 138 

farmers' bulletin 821 

farmers' bulletin 742 



farmers' bulletin 914 

U S bureau entomology U S depart- 
ment of agriculture circular 135 

farmers' bulletin 983 

farmers' bulletin 1046 

U S bureau entomology U S depart- 
ment of agriculture circular 59 

U S bureau entomology U S depart- 
ment of agriculture circular 116 

U S bureau entomology U S depart- 
ment of agriculture circular 24 

Connecticut extension circular 15 

farmers' bulletin 959 

farmers' bulletin 731 752 

farmers' bulletin 845 

U S bureau entomology U S depart- 
ment of agriculture circular 125 

farmers' bulletins 1007 
668 
543 

U S bureau entomology U S depart- 
ment of agriculture circular 90 

farmers' bulletin 994 

Kentucky tobacco products company 

Louisville Kentucky 
farmers' bulletin 231 

Massachusetts extension circular 6 

Massachusetts extension circular 8 
Iowa circular 129 



Ohio circular 302 

farmers' bulletin 423 

Connecticut agriculture extension 

station New Haven 
farmers' bulletin 778 
farmers' bulletin 744 

farmers bulletins' 358 and 173 



MAC Amherst Massachusetts 
directions for planting trees shrubs and flowers 
about home volume v No 8 
b street and roadside planting volume iv No 9 
c lawns volume v No 1 
d shade trees planting volume iii No 10 
e civic improvement exterior circular 11 



9 memorial trees 

10 trees New England in win- 

ter 

11 Christmas trees 

12 windbreaks as a farm asset 

13 wood lot care and improve- 

ment 



American forestry association 

Washington D C 
Connecticut bulletin 69 

Michigan special bulletin 78 
farmers' bulletin 788 
farmers' bulletin 711 



MisceUa7ieous 

1 Connecticut weather review 

2 collection and preservation 

of plant materials for use 
in study of agriculture 

3 collection and preservation 

of insects for use in study 
of agriculture 

4 Canada thistles 

5 larkspur or poison weed' 

6 weeds and how to control 

them 

School and home grounds 

1 annual flowering plants 

2 autumn in the flower garden 

lesson 128 flower series 

3 beautifying the home grounds 

4 lawn soils and lawns 

5 roses for the home 

6 shrubs and woody vines 

7 spring in the flower garden 

volume V No 106 

8 tree planting on rural school 

grounds 



Connecticut bulletin 64 



farmers' bulletin 586 



farmers 
farmers' 
farmers' 
farmers' 



bulletin 606 
bulletin 1002 
bulletin 988 
bulletin 660 



farmers' bulletin 195 
Cornell reading course 

York 
farmers' bulletin 185 
farmers' bulletin 494 
farmers' bulletin 750 
Vermont bulletin 145 
Cornell reading course 

York 

farmers' bulletin 134 



Ithaca New 



Ithaca New 



Start children distributing bulletins to neighboring farmers. Start 
reading clubs for farmers to be held at the school as has been done 
through agency of Cornell university Ithaca New York 

Projects 

Garden and field produce 

1 unit garden 

2 one or more square rods of 

corn 

potatoes 

onions 

soy beans 

any vegetable 

hay 

clover 

alfalfa 

3 one or more square rods of any one of the following grains 

wheat 

rye 

oats 

millet 

buckwheat 

Farm stock projects 

1 feeding and care of a horse for four months 

2 raising of a colt (2 years) 

3 raising of a calf (2 years) 

4 milk record with Babcock tester for one or more cows for 

three months 



5 care and feeding of one or more pigs (one season) 

6 care and feeding of one or more lambs (one season) 

7 making 25 pounds butter (project for girls) 

8 making 25 pounds cottage cheese (project for girls) 

9 care and rearing of one pair of rabbits 
10 raising of bees 

Those who have no opportunity for the above may do extra note- 
book work and reading. Possibly models of farm stock equipment may 
be made 

An accomplishment certificate in agriculture will be given for the 
successful completion of each of the above projects 

Standards v-vi 

Gardening facts 

1 Good vegetables must be perfect and true to variety type 

2 Animals for exhibition must be carefully selected cleaned 
and housed 

3 Select in the field seed corn that matures early and bears 
two or more ears to a stalk 

4 In the fall destroy by burning if possible all garden refuse 
that will protect insects 

5 Permit no weed to go to seed. Hoe it up or mow it down 

6 Select seed potatoes from the hill in order to secure high 
yielding strains 

7 Select a good market potato with good seed type 

8 Diseased vegetables carry disease to those that are healthy 

9 Different kinds of vegetables need different degrees of tem.- 

perature moisture and air for storage 

10 Select healthy mature ears of corn that are true to type 
to be stored for seed 

11 Store corn so that it is protected from weather rats and 
danger of moulding 

12 Accurate accounts show sources of profit or loss 

13 Land not adapted to agriculture should be planted to wood 

14 Natural phenomena are good indicators of seasonal progress 

15 The types of soil are sand silt clay loam gravel and muck 

16 Lime increases the water holding capacity of sandy soil 

17 Humus not only adds plant food to the soil but also im- 
proves structure and water holding capacity 

18 Lime overcomes soil acidity and improves soil structure 

19 Crops of the same family need practically the same care and 
cultivation 

20 The pulse family is the only family to gather nitrogen from 
the air 

21 Plants of the same family are usually attacked by the same 
insects and diseases 

22 Write all orders for supplies in a complete and legible 
manner 



23 Plan the garden to avoid shading and. to group plants of 
similar nature. 2^1ake long straight rows all running in 
one direction 

24 Test seeds to find their germinating power 

25 The replanting of a corn-field is often caused by planting 
untested seed 

26 A garden is properly fertilized when it has sufficient plant 
food humus and the soil is free from acid 

2y A well prepared seed bed is loose and smooth 

28 Plant seeds deeper in dry weather 

29 Use the method of multiplying plants that is quickest and 
most profitable 

30 Start early to kill the first insects. Birds are the best insect 
destroyers 

31 Plant diseases may be prevented never cured 

32 Weeds waste soil water and shade the crops 

33 Successful canning depends on killing all bacteria in the 
can and keeping all others out 

34 Thinned vegetables have less competition for their needs 

35 Stir the soil often to preserve a dust mulch and to prevent 
evaporation 

Summer facts 

36 Two stake method is best for tomatoes 

2)^ Do not hill potatoes. Spray as long as vines are green 
Cultivate weekly 

38 Succession plant to maintain continuous supply of vegetables 
Replant to utilize land during entire summer 

39 Intercropping insures maximum use of land 

40 Seed saving is a means of improving varieties by selection 
and saves money in buying seeds 

41 Stomach poisons kill chewing insects only 

42 Honest selling is the best policy 

43 A good garden provides food for the home food to can and 
food to sell 

Season practice chart i 

Review chart for gardening 
a fall 

1 how prepare for exhibits 

2 how select field seed corn 

3 how combat insects 

4 how combat weeds 

5 how improve potato crop 

6 how grade potatoes 

7 how combat diseases in fall 

8 how store vegetables 

9 how cull seed corn 
10 how store seed corn 

6 



winter 




11 


why have accounts 


12 


use of wood lot 


13 


weather facts 


14 


kinds of soil 


15 


kinds of soil water 


16 


movement of soil water 


17 


humus 


18 


lime 



Season praetice chart it 

Review chart for gardening 



sprmg 




1 


families of crops 


2 


how make out seed order 


3 


how map out garden 


4 


how test seeds 


5 


how fertilize garden 


6 


how prepare seed bed 


7 


how plant seed 


8 


how plants are multiplied 


summer 


9 


how combat insects 




a types 




b methods of control 


10 


how combat diseases 


11 


why kill weeds 


12 


how to can 


13 


why thin 


14 


how thin 


15 


why the soil mulch 


16 


how make soil mulch 



Season practice chart in 

Insect control chart for agriculture 
Animals 
Poultry 
Fruit 

Vegetables 
Domestic pests 

How insects feed 

1 things attacked 

2 results of attacks (kinds of holes made) 

3 results how attained (method of feeding) 
How insects are killed 

4 Poisons that kill 

5 insects killed 

6 how poison acts 

7 method of combat 
Control of any insect 

8 what holes are made 

9 method of feeding 

10 method of combat 

11 names of poison to use for particular insect 

Inductive method to be used with this chart 



Season practice chart iv 
Succession chart 

Diagram showing vegetable succession 



vegetable May June July August Sept Oct 

radish 

cress 

green onions 

lettuce 

spinach 

beet greens 

peas 
early beets 

early potatoes 

string beans 

cabbage . 

early carrots 
sweet corn 
tomatoes 
lima beans 

peppers 

parsley 

summer squash 

cucumbers 

muskmelons 



The horizontal lines show the dates and weeks through which the 
harvesting periods extend. Peas would be harvested before tomatoes 
would need the land and would in turn be harvested 

(To be used with February March April May June and summer 
lessons) 

Season practice chart v 

Review chart for planning gardens 
i Names of vegetables 

varieties of each 
ii Seed selection 

hill crops 

drill crops 

field crops 

hardy crops 

tender crops 

half hardy crops 

crops of the same family 

high growing crops 

low growing crops 
iii Testing seeds 

small seeds 

large seeds 
iv Planning 

direction of the rows 

grouping of plants of similar culture' 

high and low crops 

vine crops 

interplanting 

succession cropping 

amounts of seeds 

8 



V 


Diagram 




distance apart of rows 




planting dates 


Season practice chart vi 


Review 


production chart 


i 


Location of garden 




soil 




site 




distance from dwelling 


ii 


Preparation of the land 




fall 




spring 




fertilizing 




liming 


iii 


Planting 




season 




successions 




drill crops 




hill crops 




field crops 


iv 


Special practices for crops 


V 


Care 




cultivation 




weeds 




thinning 




watering 




hilling vs level culture 


vi 


Insects and diseases 




sucking insects 




chewing insects 




fungous diseases 




spray materials 




spraying 




dusting 


vii 


Harvesting 




when 




method 


viii 


Saving seeds 




annuals 




perennials 



First September Lesson 
Exhibiting Garden Produce 

Probably the largest display in every school fair is the 
vegetable section. Three important things must be remembered 
about this class of products. They are when to gather products 
what to pick and how to prepare products 

Vegetables should be picked when in prime condition for 
eating provided crops gathered are not out of season. An in- 
stance of this out-of-season harvesting is picking summer squash 
or sweet corn for an October exhibit. In this event those speci- 
mens best suited for seed would be placed tirst. As to the hour 
of the day vegetables should be gathered when not wilted and 
as near the hour of entering the exhibit as possible 



Only the best products should be gathered but a few extra 
ones should be selected to allow for grading and to replace those 
injured by accident. Uniformity is of great importance. Pro- 
ducts must be uniform in size shape color texture degree of 
ripeness and if a root crop in length of leaf stem. They must 
be true to type. By this is meant that if a tomato is a Bonny 
Best it must have Bonny Best characteristics and not have 
large size and rough green shoulders like the Ponderosa nor 
irregular lobes like the Earliana. In the case of corn if there 
are a few kernels of yellow seed in an ear of Stewell's Ever- 
green it is probable that the ear is partly Stowell's and partly 
Golden Bantam. Another point is the matter of blemishes. 
Products injured by weeds diseases harvesting or preparing 
should be culled out. Last but not least is quahty. Products 
that have made slow growth are woody tough or bitter. Those 
making too rapid growth tend to be too soft and tender. Over- 
growth causes lack of flavor. Overripeness or wilting leads to 
loss of good eating qualities 

The number of specimens will vary as shown in the follow- 
ing table and may vary according to the demands of different 
catalogues. How each is prepared varies also. In general how- 
ever washing is done with a sponge or cloth never with a brush 
before the dirt dries on. Stems are invariably left on. With the 
root crops about two inches of the stems are left on. Clipping 
should be done with shears or sharp knife. With leeks and 
radishes the entire top is left on. If late in the season the entire 
tops of root crops are removed and the sear neatly trimmed. 
In the case of corn the husk is removed and the butt nearly cut 
down. The greens and garnishes are generally left with root 
on but the roots however must be as carefullv washed as the tops 



Group i Sev( 


eral specimens 


Group ii Dri 


ed products 


20 each 




i pt eac 


h 


a 


string beans 


a 


peas 


b 


peas in pod 


b 


beans 


c 


brussels sprouts 






Group iii Sin: 


g\e specimens 


Group iv Root crops 


1 each 




5 each 




a 


cabbage 


a 


carrots 


b 


cauliflower 


b 


kohl-rabi 


c 


celery- 


c 


leeks 


d 


chard 


d 


onions 


e 


cucumber 


e 


parsnips 


f 


egg plant 


f 


radishes 


§ 


melons 


S 


rutabagas 


h 


pumpkins 


h 


salsify 
turnips 


i 


squashes 


i 


Group V Plat 


es 


Group vi Greens and garnishes 


5 each 




1 plant ( 


each 


a 


okra 


a 


kale 


b 


peppers 


b 


lettuce 


c 


tomatoes 


c 


parsley 


d 


sweet corn 


d 


sage 






e 


spinach 



10 



Fact Good vegetables must be perfect and true to variety and type 

Words to be defined 

specimens uniformity characteristics garnishes 
flavor 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Exhibiting farm stock and poultry 

2 Aim To leiarn how to prepare farm stock and poultry for the 

fair 

3 Home questions 

a What special care is taken of farm stock or poultry in 

preparation for exhibiting 
b What qualities are considered in selecting animals for 

exhibition 
c Hov^^ are they housed and fed 
d What animals can you exhibit 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Make clippings of farm stock and poultry which has won 
prizes 

5 For reading and study 

Exhibiting farm stock Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Second September Lesson 
Exhibiting Farm Stock and Poultry 

Rabbits and poultry may be brought to the school fair. See 
to it that the best animal or bird has been selected with regard' 
to breed type individual excellence and coat or feathers 

An exhibitor may bring as many rabbits as desired. Before 
the show keep the hutches or boxes in which the rabbits are to 
be exhibited carefully cleaned so that the fur may be in the best 
possible condition of cleanliness and order. Shavings and coarse 
straw should be the litter at this time. A rabbit is a cleanly 
animal and will slick its coat if given the opportunity. A little 
linseed meal in the grain feed w^ill help to give a gloss to the 
animal's fur 

Good standard hutches or boxes such as are described and 
illustrated in the June lesson will help to show the animal to 
the best advantage. The floor of the hutch should be covered 
with clean shavings or cut straw on the day of the fair. The 
water can should be fastened to the side of the hutch so that the 
animal can not overturn it and soak the litter. Food for one day 
should be provided 

A card must be nailed to each cage stating the name of the 
exhibitor the breed of the animal and its age 

All entries should be in the hall at noon on the day set for 
the fair 

Several weeks before the fair the exhibitor of poultry 
should begin to select and care for the birds which are to be 

11 



shown. Select pictures of the pure bred type of bird and try to 
select the specimen which most nearly approaches the perfect 
type. Special attention should be given to the comb to see that it 
has the proper characteristics and to the legs that they are 
feathered and un feathered when necessary. If the birds have 
plumage peculiar to breed the specimen most nearly approach- 
ing the standard for coloring and marking should be selected. 
Remove all dead broken and defective feathers. No bird having 
scaly legs should ever be exhibited. It is cured by scrubbing the 
shanks with soap and water with a tooth brush drying and rub- 
bing with sweet oil or linseed oil 

White birds should never be shown with dirty feathers. 
They are washed with soap and water of 85-90 degree tempera- 
ture. Rinse in warm water which has a trace of blueing in it to 
whiten the feathers. Thoroughly dry in a warm room. A little 
corn starch sprinkled among the feathers when thoroughly dry 
will give an added gloss to them. The poultry cages may be 
similar to the rabbit hutches described and should be cared for 
and marked in the same manner 

Fact Animals for exhibition must be carefully selected cleaned and 
housed 

Words to be defined 

hutches litter entry comb plumage scaly 

shanks rinse 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Seed corn 

2 Aim How to select seed corn for next year 

3 Home questions 

a Find when your father or a neighbor selects corn for seed 

b When should corn be harvested 

c From what kinds of stalks should corn be taken for seed 

d What kind of ears should be saved 

e Where should ears be placed after picking 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Make clippings on corn harvesting and paste in note-book 
b Select a boy to bring several stalks of corn with ears 
attached to use lor discussion in next class period 

5 For reading and study 

"How to select seed corn for next year" Readings in Agri- 
culture Gardening 

Third September Lesson 

Seed Corn 

In selecting seed corn we should take into consideration the 
kind of plant that bears the corn. To do this requires that the 
selection be made just before harvesting starts. The best type 
of plant to pick out should have strong stalks which should be 

12 



shorter than the average growing under normal conditions. 
There must also be good clean thrifty leaf development 

The position of the ear on the stalk is of more importance 
than generally considered. It has been found that ears four to 
five feet from the ground mature better than those at a greater 
height. Such ears should be held upright although ears that 
droop slightly so that rain will not run down into the husks 
may be picked for seed. Special care should be taken to search 
out all stalks having two or more ears 

Ears taken from desirable plants must be mature and not 
too late in ripening. Strong symmetrical ears are always pre- 
ferred. Because of the fact that we wish at a later date to 
make a more critical selection of ears we pick more ears than 
will be really needed 

As the corn intended for seed is gathered each day it should 
be hung up in a dry place not in bunches out under the veranda 
roofs or on the sides of the corn crib as was done in our grand- 
fathers' day but in such a manner that no two ears will touch 
each other. The two young scientific farmers in the accompany-' 
ing picture are demonstrating how this should be done 

The importance of this field selection should never be for- 
gotten. A well selected and preserved bushel of seed may be 
worth $25.00 more in its producing power than a bushel se- 
lected from the crib in the spring when we consider that it will 
easii) give us jo bushels more per acre when planted 

Fact Select in the field seed corn that matures early and bears two or 
more ears to a stalk 

Words to be defined 

thrifty development stalk mature husks 

symmetrical critical acre 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Insects 

2 Aim To find how to destroy msects in the fall 

3 Home questions 

a What insects do you find hiding away in the fall under 

rubbish boards and crevices?' 
b Find out what farmers do in the fall to kill insects that 

might live over winter 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Have each child select five or more ears of field corn and 

hang it up at home 
b 'Children make clippings on insects and paste them in 

note-books 
c Write story "How I select seed corn" 

5 For reading and study 

"Insect lessons that we should remember" Readings in Agri- 
culture Gardening 

13 




Boys using binder twine to suspend ears of corn to dry. 
By this means two boys can quickly suspend the seed 
ears in a well-ventilated place 



First October Lesson 

Insects 

Why not have a garden clean up week in every garden in 
town this fall and start the battle against next year's weeds and 
insects 

The potato stalk borer was one insect that doubtless troubled 
many gardeners and farmers too. The eggs were laid singly at 
the base of the stem. The larvae hatched in a few days and 
bored down into the stalk. The pupae developed and were found 
in the stalk near the surface of the ground. From these infested 
stalks the adults emerged in August and September and hid 
among the dying vine tops. If the vines are raked up and 
burned as soon as the potatoes are dug many of these pests may 
be destroyed 



14 



Another old enemy that has been with us for several sea- 
sons is the aphid or plant louse. Every one remembers the hard 
work all summer long spraying them with nicotine or other 
smothering poisons. Were' they all killed? The chances are 
that they were not. Here again we can kill another enemy if we 
burn our potato vines and dying plants. Fall plowing will also 
kill many of these mischievous pests but should we do this a 
crop of rye must be sown to prevent the land from washing away 

Carefully hiding himself away under some shingle that we 
used to protect a tomato plant in the spring we may find squash 
bugs starting to sleep the winter through 

Many insect pests are found on weeds in garden refuse and 
too much cannot be said on the importance of destroying them 
by burning all garden litter in the fall. If you allowed weeds 
to grow in or near your garden this year they were probably 
affected with plant lice and other pests. You sprayed your 
potatoes and other crops but gave no thought to the weeds 
growing nearby. The season for spraying is over but remember 
there are still some insects left and that millions can be killed 
by burning all weeds and refuse and by plowing the land so 
that grubs and insects will be killed 

Fact In the fall destroy by burning if possible all garden refuse that 
will protect insects 

Words to be defined 

borer larvae pest aphid nicotine 

smothering poisons refuse litter 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Weeds 

2 Aim To find how we can start the battle this fall against the 

weeds of next spring 

3 Home questions 

a What kinds of roots do Canada thistles have 

b Why is it hard to kill quack grass 

c What weeds live several years 

d What weeds live one year only 

e How can you prevent weeds from going to seed 

f How can you prevent weed seed from being brought onto 

the farm 

g How can you kill quack grass 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Burn all refuse about the garden spade and sow to rye 
b Gather samples of weed seeds bottle and label 
c Note-book work v.ith weed clippings and pictures 

5 For reading and study 

"How we can start the battle this fall against the weeds of 
next spring" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

15 



Second October Lesson 
Weeds 

When any one asks "What is a weed?" it is often difficult 
to answer. Some people tell us that it is a plant out of place. 
But this is often incorrect as many weeds poison the land as no 
otherwise useful plant will do. Really a weed is a wild plant 
that has the habit of intruding where it is not wanted 

Like the "poor" we are almost always bound to have weeds 
with us because even under adverse conditions weeds are able to 
maintain themselves. Some of them are able to do thi^ by pro- 
ducing large quantities of seeds while others possess roots or 
root stocks that live from year to year (and often for several 
years) 

Weeds are not always useless. Sometimes they are the 
means by which organic matter is restored to the soil and gen- 
erally a soil is more productive when it contains larger amounts 
of organic matter. Then too they may be useful at times in 
preventing soil washing especially during the winter months. 
Weeds are useful in collecting and holding nitrates and other 
valuable salts during the periods when crops are not being grown 
thus preventing these valuable nutrients from being washed from 
the soil. Ordinarily however all these benefits may be realized 
through the use of proper rotation of useful crops in which case 
it is a serious mistake to let weeds grow. It would be much 
better to burn our gardens over in the fall and after plowing 
them up to plant winter rye 

We find in harvesting our crops that the presence of weeds 
makes the work difficult. They may even prevent some crops 
from curing or maturing properly 

Upon examining many weeds we find that some live only 
one year and are called annuals while others that live two or 
more years are called biennials or perennials. In view of this 
fact our methods of destruction must vary. Some methods can 
be applied right away this fall whereas others can be employed 
when we study weeds again in the spring 

Far more important than to kill weeds is to avoid having 
weeds to kill. In other words the farmer should aim to prevent 
rather than cure the evil. A farm can be made almost free of 
weeds by strictly observing the following principles 

1 Prevent weeds from going to seed 

2 Prevent weed seeds from being brought on to the 
farm 

3 In cases of perennials prevent them from making 

top growth and thus finally starving the under- 
ground roots 
We saw how well the third principle worked out when we 
kept the green blades of quack grass hoed down but it is the 
first principles with which we should concern ourselves at this 
time. Should we decide to have a different garden spot next 
spring it would be well to try to clean that spot this fall 

16 







1 -^m 







Diagram showing the characteristic root growth of Canada thistle, a perennial weed 



\ 






■\ \ 






1 




Y 

\ 


i 




\ 




\ 


f 


f^'^\ > ^ 




\i %^) 


\F 


/ 









A plant of crab-grass, an annual weed 

Fact Permit no weed to go to seed. Hoe it up or mow it down 

Words to be defined 

organic matter nitrate nutrient rotation of crops 

annual biennial perennial quack grass 



17 



Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Potatoes 

2 Aim To find how to improve next year's potato crop by hill 

selection 

3 Home questions 

a Find how farmers select next year's seed potatoes 
b At what time of year do they select their seed? 

4 Work for school or home activity 

Note 'book work and picture chart work of clippings and 
pictures on the harvesting of potatoes Farmers' bulletins 
428 and 460 

5 For reading and study 

"Improving the potato crop by hill selection" Readings in 
Agriculture Gardening 

Third October Lesson 
Potatoes 

Many farmers make a practice of planting all their small 
potatoes and this practice has caused much controversy. We 
shall decide for ourselves as to what we should do 

Potatoes are grown from tubers and not from seeds although 
we call the cut tubers "seeds." Every potato that comes from 
the same plant will then have exactly the same ancestry. A 
small potato then is in reality a part of the same plant as a large 
potato from the same hill. Consequently all of the potatoes from 
a hill can be used for seed. The thing to be done is to find 
which hills are the high producers 

Where a farmer grows his own seed a good way is to di^ 
each hill separately by hand. The hills that produce the highest 
yields should be saved. If the product from each hill be kept 
separate and planted separately in the spring the product from 
each high producing hill will grow considerable seed that is very 
productive. In this way each boy who carefully watches the 
yield of each hill of potatoes as he digs is in reality a young 
scientific plant breeder 

Fact Select seed potatoes from the hill in order to secure high yielding 
strains 

Words to be defined 

tubers ancestry high producers yield scientific 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Types of potatoes 

2 Aim How to select good types of potatoes 

3 Home questions 

a What size shape color and kinds of skins are preferred 

for potatoes? 

b Wliat shape is preferred for "French fries" 

c What size is preferred for baking? 

d What are the names of some good quality potatoes? 

e What are the names of some poor quality potatoes? 

f What is a red variety? 

g What is a white variety? 

h What is an early variety? 

i What is a late variety? 

18 



4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

"How to hill select potatoes" 
b Seasonal home project work 

Have several boys hill select and bring yields of 

separate hill for observation at next class 
c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on harvesting potatoes 
d Materials to gather 

Have boys bring potatoes illustrating their answers 

to the home questions 

5 For reading and study 

"How to choose good types of potatoes" Readings in Agri- 
culture Gardening 

Fourth October Lesson 

Types of Potatoes 

Whenever one is sorting over his potatoes in the fall the 
primary thing of which he is thinking is ''How much will they 
bring?" He thinks of many things which will bring a high price 
among which are size shape color and the kind of skin. The 
tubers must have rather thick tough skins or else they will not 
ship well. These skins must be smooth however and free from 
dirt or injuries that will spoil their appearance. Generally the 
color of potatoes is white. When this is not true one may find 
it a little harder to sell his crop. Last but not least the potatoes 
must be of medium and uniform size and shape a slight oval' 
shape being preferred 

Such potatoes even wdien they are as perfect as those men- 
tioned above do not always meet w^ith favor after they reach the 
cook. It may happen sometimes that she wishes extra large ones 
for baking or extra long ones for "French fries." These cases 
are exceptional however. What she does want always are 
potatoes that have shallow eyes so that little will be wasted in 
peeling. H she is a really good cook she will insist that the 
potato be of good texture when cooked. They are often spoken 
of as being *'mea1y." Some varieties such as "Green Mountain" 
will always be mealy when cooked. One that will not be mealy 
as a rule is the "Double Yielder" 

Very often it happens that the farmer decides that he may 
wish to increase his acreage the next year and intends to save 
good seed out while sorting. To be sure he will consider the 
things the market man and cook would desire but he must^ also 
pick out tubers that will grow the next spring. With this in 
mind he selects those that are free from rot scab or disease 
true to varietv characteristics or type as it is called fresh and 
with good healthy eyes capable of sending out strong sprouts 

H anv potatoes are to be exhibited they must answer to^the 
needs of the "butcher the baker and the potato crop maker" 

19 



Fact Select a good market potato with good seed type 

Words to be defined 

texture mealy acreage sorting French fries 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Plant diseases 

2 Aim To find fall methods of disease control 

3 Home questions 

a Look up the definition of "disease" 

b Find out how diseases are spread 

c How do farmers control diseases 

d What vegetables are spoiled in storage by disease 

e What diseases cause this spoiling 

4 Work foi home or school activity 

a Composition 

"How to grade potatoes" 

b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on diseases of vege- 
tables and on storage 

c Materials to gather 

Have boys bring vegetables that are diseased 

For use in January have boys gather i pk each of 

sand clay loam gravel leaf mold 

5 For reading and study 

"Plant diseases" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

First November Lesson 
Plant Diseases 

During the summer we saw plants die not because of in- 
sects or dry weather but because they seemed to grow weakly. 
This was because they were sick. Plants as well as animals 
may become sick provided they do not have proper surroundings 
or nourishment to resist diseases 

Often there is a question as to what disease is. Disease is 
really any change in a plant towards reduced vigor or condition 
from the average or ordinary behaviour. Several reasons may 
bring about this change. Tiny plants without leaves called fungi 
may grow on the vegetables and cause them to die 

Still smaller plants with only one cell called bacteria may 
also cause sickness. At times bacteria or fungi work only on 
the surface of plants. Such feeders are often the mildews such 
as occur on lettuce melons or cucumbers. Other fungi may 
work within the tissues as does the bean anthracnose potato 
blight and scab. Some of the diseases caused by bacteria are the 
black rot of cabbages bean blights and melon wilts 

All diseases are by no means caused by tiny plants growing 
on the vegetables. Very often the plant is overfed and swellings 
result on certain parts of the plant. This condition is called 
''oedema" and although no germ has attacked the plant it is dis- 
eased. In some cases the coloring matter of the plant changes 
and as a result the plant through its inability to carry on its 

20 



ordinary behaviour of gathering plant food dies. So we see 
plants may have sicknesses very much Hke heart disease and 
other organic sicknesses pecuHar to man 

Fungous diseases are spread by means of spores correspond- 
ing to the seeds of higher plants. These spores are carried by 
wind water man implements insects and even by the soil itself. 
Bacteria are carried in much the same manner. (These facts 
can be illustrated by sticking a tooth pick into a decayed apple 
and then into a healthy apple. It will be remembered that pota- 
toes are more scabby when they are grown on soil that has had 
a previous crop of scabby tubers.) Often times the mere con- 
tact of a diseased specimen with a healthy one may be a means 
of carrying the disease from one to the other 

Diseases may be prevented in various ways 

1 By taking preventive measures such as the applica- 

tion of sprays before the presence of disease germs 

2 Burning or destruction of diseased material 

3 Use of clean seed that will produce vigorous plants 
that tend to withstand infection 

4 By other methods such as the removal of diseased 
parts of the plant rotation of crops on infested soil 
use of varieties not susceptible and the selection of 
seeds from resistant plants 

Some of these things can be done only next spring but much 
can be done this fall. In storing our root crops all specmiens 
that show the least speck of disease should be thrown aside. In 
packing the roots soil that has grown diseased roots of the same 
kind as are being stored should never be used 

Too little thought is given to sanitation in laying aside the 
potatoes in storage. Not infrequently diseased potatoes having 
dry rot germs are lying about. Barrels that have held potatoes 
having the germs of blight and its resulting rot are often care- 
lessly used without ever being cleaned 

Many more things could be said about culling and destroy- 
ing diseased vegetables and burning diseased refuse. It will be 
for each young gardener to use his thought and care in fighting 
against dreaded diseases and waste. Next spring more can be 
said about controlling diseases 

Fact Diseased vegetables carry disease to those that are healthy 

Words to be defined 

nourishment fungi bacteria mildew blight 

spores sanitation culling 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Storage of vegetables 

2 Aim How to care for the winter supply of vegetables 

21 



3 Home questions 

a What vegetables can be stored for winter 

b How are beets carrots rutabagas etc stored 

c How are parsnips horseradish chicory stored 

d How are cabbage and celery stored 

e How are potatoes stored 

f How are onions stored 

g How are squash and pumpkins stored 

4 Work for home and school activity 

Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on storing vegetables 

5 For reading and study 

"Storage of vegetables" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Second November Lesson 
Storage of Vegetables 

The home garden should be planted with an idea of furnish- 
ing a large assortment and continuous supply of vegetables not 
only during the growing season but for winter use as well. Oi 
course this would make it necessary that we have a garden of 
several units. Most people have no idea of the number of com- 
mon vegetables that may be kept for winter use. This list in- 
cludes about thirty different kinds. There are about twenty kinds 
parsnips potatoes beets carrots horseradish winter radishes 
rutabagas salsify turnips kohlrabi cabbage celery leeks 
chicory dry beans pumpkins squashes and sweet potatoes 
that may be easily stored in the fresh state 

In order to secure the best results in storage it is generally 
necessary to regulate the time of planting so that crops will be 
at the proper stage of maturity at the time for storage. For ex- 
ample beets sown extremely early in the spring would hardly 
make desirable roots for winter storage because of their being 
overgrown and woody. Later planting would produce smaller 
beets of better quality for winter keeping 

The time for harvesting where crops are to be stored is just 
as late as possible avoiding any possible chance of injury by 
freezing. This time will vary slightly with different vegetables 
for instance turnips may be allowed to remain in the ground 
longer than beets they being more hardy and beets slightly longer 
than carrots. Only vegetables free from blemishes or injuries 
should be used 

Vegetables to be stored for winter use should be harvested 
and handled with care. Root crops such as beets carrots win- 
ter radishes rutabagas turnips and kohlrabi may usually be 
harvested by pulling the tops. In case the vegetables are long 
rooted digging with a fork may be necessary 

Horseradish parsnips salisfy and chicory usually require 
digging in order to get the root out without injury and should be 
removed so that the tip is not more than a quarter of an inch in 
diameter in case it is broken off 

Cabbage and celery are taken up by the roots and both with 
the soil clinging to them. Only injured parts are removed. Root 

22 



tops should be removed carefully cutting about three-fourths of 
an inch from the crown of the vegetable so that no ordinary 
injury will occur. Otherwise the roots are subject to bleeding 
and soon wither because of loss of moisture. The portion of the 
leaf remaining on the crown soon withers and falls off with no 
injury to the root 

_ Onions for winter storage are harvested when the necks 
begin to wither. The tops are removed and the onions placed 
in a well ventilated place preferably under cover to "cure" 

Nearly all the common vegetables are satisfactorily stored 
under one of four conditions 

1 Cool moist conditions and no circulation of air 

2 Cool dry conditions with a circulation of air 

3 Cool moist condition of roots and a circulation of 
air about the top 

4 Warm dry conditions with a free circulation of air. 
Most of the common vegetables are stored under 
the first condition of coolness moisture and no cir- 
culation of air namely potatoes beets carrots 
horseradish parsnips winter radishes rutabagas 
salsify cabbage and kohlrabi 

The conditions for the first group may be met in several 
ways. Where only a limited supply is to be stored the best 
method is to place the vegetables in a box of moist sand or 
soil in layers. Where larger quantities are to be put away they 
may be stored in what is known as an out-of-door pit 

Parnsips salsify and horseradish being perfectly hardy are 
not injured by freezing and may be left in the ground over 
winter but it is often difficult to secure them when wanted under 
these conditions. They may be placed in a conical pile in a well 
drained place and covered with about six inches of earth which 
may be chopped away at any time it is desired to get at the 
vegetables 




Cabbage pit also good for root crops 

23 



Beets carrots winter radishes rutabagas turnips and kohl- 
rabi are not hardy and must be protected from freezing. The 
vegetables are placed in a conical pile on a well drained piece of 
land covered with a layer of from six to eight inches of straw 
and about the same amount of earth leaving some of the straw 
protruding at the top to provide ventilation as the vegetables are 
likely to develop some heat when first covered. As soon as cold 
weather sets in the earth may be thrown over the top to com- 
pletely seal the pit. In extremely cold sections a layer of strawy 
manure is sometimes put on the top of this after the earth cover- 
ing has become frozen 

Where a considerable quantity of vegetables is to be stored 
in this way a series of pits one adjoining the other may be 
made with only the amount of vegetables in each pit that can be 
economically used at one time. In this way no pits are opened 
until the vegetables are to be used 

Cabbages are stored by placing them head down three in a 
row and two on top making a tier of five cabbages the roots ex- 
tending in the air. The pile may be as long as necessary. Several 
inches of straw or leaves should then be put over the cabbage 
and the same amount of earth thrown on them. Cabbage may 
be kept frozen solid without injury to the head providing it is 
thawed out very gradually 

Onions in limited amounts may be easily stored in a cool 
place where there is a free circulation of dry air about them the 
main point to bear in mind is that they require a low temperature 
as they sprout readily where there is any heat. A bushel or so 
may be hung up in a basket suspended from a rafter in a cool 
cellar. Larger quantities are usually stored in slatted crates one 
piled on top of the other allowing a free circulation of air be- 
tween the crates 

Celery leek brussels sprouts and chicory vegetables that 
continue their growth after storage are transplanted with soil 
clinging to their roots 

Celery leek and chicory in a small way may be transplanted 
into a box with holes in it for ventilation and the roots covered 
with moist sand or soil the air being allowed to circulate through 
the tops. Watering will be frequently necessary and should be 
applied to the roots and not the tops otherwise disease is liable 
to start and decay soon follows 

Celery leek and chicory if a hotbed is available may be 
transplanted into the bottom of the bed and kept for a consider- 
able length of time if additional covering is put on during severe 
weather 

Dry beans sweet potatoes squashes and pumpkins in a 
limited way may be stored on a shelf in a furnace room or in a 
warm place where they may be kept dry and free from moisture. 
In order to insure squashes and pumpkins keeping satisfactorily 

24 



they should be harvested with the whole stem and part of the 

vine attached otherwise they are likely to start decaying on the 

stem end 

The second group includes only the onion • 

The third group includes such vegetables as dry beans sweet 

potatoes pumpkins and squashes 

Fact Different kinds of vegetables need different degrees of temperature 
moisture and air 

Words to be defined 

assortment storage blemish pit crate 

transplanted 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Corn 

2 Aim To learn how to judge corn 

3 Home questions 

a How can you tell matured corn? 

b (What do a few white kernels on an ear of yellow corn 

indicate?' 
c Which ears are best matured long or short 
d Why do farmers like ears with well filled out tips and 

butts ? 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

"How to store vegetables" 
b Seasonal home project work 

Children should store at least one type of vegetable 

according to methods prescribed in reading lesson 
c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on corn 
d Materials to gather 

Children should bring ten ears of corn each for 

judging 

5 For reading and study . 

"Judging corn" Readings in Agriculture Gardenmg 

Third November Lesson 
Judging Corn 

We have already learned about harvesting our seed corn. If 
we followed directions the corn became perfectly mature m the 
field before harvesting. After the corn had been taken from the 
field great care was used in drying it out well before it was in 
danger of freezing. Corn when taken from the field contanis 
from 20% to 3570 moisture. Freezing in this condition usually 
ruins it for planting purposes 

We picked more than we really need for planting and now 
we shall make a very critical selection or "judging" as it is called 

Numerous score cards have been devised for corn judging. 
Necessarily each varies with the ideas of the different persons 
who compile them. A score card however aids the judges in 
keeping all the important points in mind. It establishes a uni- 
form basis for study and comparison and prevents laying undue 

25 



stress on certain points to the exclusion of others. The use of 
a corn score card requires judgment the same as for fruit Hve 
stock milk or other products 

Score card Flint corn Score card Dent corn 

points perfect score points perfect score 



1 


maturity and seed con- 




1 


maturity and seed con- 






dition * 


20 




dition 


25 


2 


uniformity 


15 


2 


uniformity 


15 


3 


kernels 


15 


3 


kernels 


15 


4 


weight of ear 


10 


4 


weight of ear 


15 


5 


length and proportion 


10 


5 


length and proportion 


10 


6 


butts 


10 


6 


butts 


5 


7 


tips 


5 


7 


tips 


5 


8 


space between rows 


10 


8 


space between rows 


5 


9 


color 


5 


9 


color 


5 



100 100 

Maturity and seed condition. This is perhaps the most im- 
portant point on the score card. Corn is worthless econom- 
ically speaking if it will not grow. The ears should be firm 
(try twisting in the hands) and free from mould. They 
should have a bright lustre. There should be no chaflf or 
silks adhering. The germs should not be shrunken or blistered 
and the sample should show an all-round healthy vigorous 
appearance 

Uniformity. Uniformity and trueness to type are usually 
considered together. Few types are recognized in the west. 
It is hard to determine what a "type" of New England corn 
is. The ears should be similar in length shape size and color 
indentation of kernels etc. Uniformity in an exhibit would 
go to show that the corn was sufficiently developed so that 
the type had become somewhat fixed and stable 

Kernel. Of course here again an entirely different basis 
must be used for dent and flint corns. The kernels should be 
uniform and slightly wedged shaped. (Judges remove a few 
kernels from dift'erent parts of the ear to determine this.) 
The shape of the kernel determines to a great extent the 
amount of corn on the cob lost space between row? also 
chemical composition. Kernels with much starch are rich in 
carbohydrates those having a larger germ are rich in oil. 
The kernels should possess germs of good size. Kernels of 
uneven size do not work through corn planters with uni- 
formity. The edges of the kernels should be straight and fit 
closely together they should be of uniform thickness. The 
rows also should be straight 

Weight of ear. In this score card this item takes the place 
of "proportion of corn to cob" in other score cards. Dry 
cobs do not vary much weight and it is much easier for a 
judge to weigh the ears than to have two or three out of ten 
shelled and the proportion of corn to cob determined in this 
way. The weight of shelled corn per acre is the important 



part. Here again there is a wide difference between dent 
and flint corn. Dent ears may weigh sixteen ounces or more 
and are usually produced one on a stalk. Flint ears weigh 
eight to ten ounces and more than one ear is commonly pro- 
duced on a stalk 

5 Length of ear and its proportion. The size of ears of corn 
vary considerably with the locality soil etc so it is hard to 
fix a standard of length. Dent varieties should be 93^ inches 
to 10 inches long. Flint varieties may be 11 inches to 12 inches 
long. Some varieties of both types may be smaller. In dent 
corn the circumference of the ears taken two inches above 
the butt should be about 2/3 the length. Ears with too large 
a circumference for their length are slow to mature. Ears 
should not be too tapering. Nearly cylindrical ears are 
desirable. Ears should be full and strong in the central por- 
tion 

6 Butts. Large yield to the acre depends on having the butts 
and tips well filled out. The kernels should be uniform in 
size and well arranged around the butt surrounding a cup 
shaped cavity. The butt of the ear should not be too large 
neither should it be so small as not to support the ear well 
when it is hanging on the stalk. Butts should be somewhat 
expanded but not too large 

7 Tips. Should be well covered with kernels of uniform size 
and in rows which are a continuation of those on the ears. 
Poor tips may be caused by an unfavorable season. Tips 
well filled out show good breeding and a larger amount of 
shelled corn to the acre 

8 Space between the rows. Much space between the rows re- 
duces the proportion of shelled corn. The shape of the 
kernels the straightness of the rows both at the base end of 
the kernel and on the exterior should be carefully noted 

9 Color. The color of the kernels should be uniform and of a 
bright lustre showing good condition. White or black 
kernels in yellow corn should be severely cut and vice versa. 
Too many mixed kernels may disqualify the exhibit. Miss- 
ing kernels may be taken to mean that those originally occupy- 
ing the vacant space were off color. The cobs should all be 
of the same color. Usually white corn has white cobs. Red 
cobs in yellow corn are preferred. Variation in color of cobs 
shows mixture and poor breeding 

Fact Select healthy mature ears of corn that are true to type to be 
stored for seed 

Words to be defined 

score card uniform basis economically speaking 

adhering uniformity indentation 

kernels carbohydrate butt 

variation 



Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Storing of corn 

2 Aim To learn how to store seed corn 

3 Home questions 

a How have you seen corn hung up for winter storage 
b Where was the corn hung 

c What differences have you seen in the way the corn 
sprouted in the spring depending on where it hung 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on how to improve the 
corn crop 

b Materials to gather 

Boys should bring corn to illustrate method of hang- 
ing. Materials mentioned in reading lesson should 
be brought to make into racks 

5 For reading and study 

"Storing seed corn" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Fourth November Lesson 

Storing Seed Corn 

After the corn has been properly culled great care should 
be taken in storing it. It should be dry by the first of December 
and must be protected throughout the winter from all sudden 
and extreme changes of temperature or humidity and must be 
kept above the freezing point until thoroughly dry 

Where kitchen or furnace room can be used for curing corii 
small hanging devices may be used for the holding of the corn. 
A simple and practical method is to use cord tying the ears so 
they are a safe distance apart for drying as shown in picture. 
Another device is to use double cord placing ears between them 
so that they can be held securely and hung on a nail or hook by 
the loop as shown in the left of the picture. Two persons can 
conveniently put up a large quantity of corn in a short time by 
the use of the double cord. One person holds the cords while 
the other places the ears in position 

Small movable racks such as are shown in the first picture 
are often used in which sufficient corn to plant five or six acres 
can be placed and the rack put up in the kitchen until the corn 
is well dried. Another device is the "corn tree" shown in accom- 
panying picture which is now recommended by many as a con- 
venient device for curing small quantities of seed corn. Often 
this portable device for curing corn can be placed in a doorway 
or window where there is a strong current of air to help carry 
off moisture from the corn. Such a tree six feet high will hold 
enough corn to plant fifteen acres 

28 




This corn tree holds sufficient corn to 
plant 15 acres on the check row 
system. A smooth pole six feet 
long and eight inches in diameter 
is fitted with a base to hold it up- 
right. Rows o£ long, headless 
finishing nails are driven into the 
post 2* to 3 inches apart. The eajs 
of corn are thrust upon these nails 
and stand apart for curing. 



29 



Boards may be fastened together in panels and finishing 
nails driven in on both sides at the proper distance apart so that 
the ears of corn when placed on the nails will not touch. By 
having the panels fastened about two feet apart at top and bot- 
tom a large quantity of corn can be stored in a convenient way 
to let the air circulate freely through it 

An attic which can be ventilated and has a chimney passing 
through it or is located directly over a heated room so that it 
can be kept at a fairly uniform temperature through the winter 
is an exceedingly good place to cure corn. The attic 'is usually 
the driest portion of the house and if corn is stored on racks or 
hanging devices in the early fall it will cure out exceptionally 
well. During the warm fall weather the attic is usually heated 
to a fairly high temperature and the effect upon the corn would 
be equal to that of fire drying provided the quantity is limited. 
If a large quantity of corn is to be dried wthin the attic it will 
be necessary to set up a small stove to cure it in the best manner 



'■^^^^^$!^ 



>-^^^^f~ 






^®ii^ii^:*^ 



■■'^fmmm 



Four devices for curing seed corn. At the left the double cord is shown. The rack 
in the center consists of a square frame of 2x4 inch strips on each side of which 
wires have been stapled two inches apart each way. The ears of corn are laid 
upon these two sets of wires. Next is shown the single cord method of tying and 
at the right hangs a rack made of heavy wire in which the ears are laid 



Underneath the roof of the corn crib is an exceedingly good 
place to cure corn during the early fall. It should be hung 
where there is a strong circulation of air through the crib. After 
corn has hung under the roof of the corn crib for four or five 



weeks it can be taken out and put into the attic or dry room to 
be kept through the winter 

Fact Store corn so that it is protected from weather rats and danger 
of moulding 

Words to be defined 

humidity device rack attic curing corn 

Assignment in preparation for next ]c?;~on 

1 Topic Farm accounts 

2 Aim To learn the use of farm accounts 

3 Home questions 

a Find out the names of farmers that keep accounts 
b Find out the reasons why farmers keep accounts 

4 Work for home or school activity 

1 Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on farm accounts 
Draw up a model form for farm accounts 

5 For reading and study 

"Farm accounts" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

First December Lesson 

Farm Accounts 

Farming is a business the same as banking or running a 
department store. It is a business which involves the production 
and sale of several kinds of products. Several important points 
must be considered 

1 What does it cost to produce these products? 

2 By selling at market prices what profit is made? 

3 How much does a farmer get for his year's labor after 
all his expenses have been paid and interest has been 
paid on the amount of money that he has invested in 
the farm ? To be sure many farmers "are making a 
living off the farm" but if business records were kept 
and accounts taken each year of the condition of the 
farm as years go by not a few farmers would be re- 
ceiving little or nothing for their work 

Those farmers who have tried to keep books have generally 
used systems devised by city bookkeepers who do not know 
conditions on the farm. The reasons why farm accounts are 
different from those of the city are many. The storekeeper deals 
with actual figures that is he knows definitely what each article 
costs him and what he receives for it. His records are not nearly 
so subject to estimates or variation in values from time to time 
as is the case with the farmer. Farm records deal largely with 
estimated values are influenced by particular conditions on the 
farm considered and pertain not only to one enterprise but per- 
haps to a dozen, li a farmer has i6o acres of land and is selhng 
nothing from it except corn and has no expenses except labor 
the question of bookkeeping need not be considered but when 

31 



this same farmer with i6o acres is growing corn potatoes wheat 
oats hay truck crops and fruit and is feeding some of these 
crops to cattle horses sheep hogs and poultry there is urgent 
need of determining what each one of these lines is costing and 
contributing to the net income of the farm 

There are different types of accounting. Probably the most 
common type is where a record is kept of those who owe you 
and those whom you owe. This is called personal accounting 

Accounting may be a means of studying a business. This 
is called cost accounting which is an investigation into the internal 
organization and management of the business. It differs from 
simple bookkeeping where only debits and credits are kept. The 
interpretation of results and their application call for a thorough 
understanding of the business itself. People frequently criticize 
the former but they confuse bookkeeping with cost accounting. 
The result of the cost accounting should show where the greatest 
income is made and where the biggest outgo lies. Still further if 
the farmer understands the art of farming his accounts will 
point out where costs may be cut down or where receipts may be 
increased 

There are many accounts that may be kept. One of the 
best examples of accounting is found in dairy records on cows. 
If a feed record is kept and also the record of the amount of 
milk each cow produces with the percentage of butter fat it will 
be clearly pointed out which cow is the most unprofitable. She 
may be sold for beef or disposed of while the others more profit- 
able may be kept to produce high grade calves 

In analyzing garden acccounts it may be helpful to find out 
which crops in the garden brought the largest cash returns. The 
gardener may then decide as to whether he can increase his sales 
of this crop the next year and also if he can increase the amount 
of this particular crop at a reasonable cost. This would be a 
feature that would lead to business expansion 

On the other hand he might find out the sources of greatest 
costs. It may be possible that some costs may be eliminated 
almost entirely without decreasing the returns from the garden 
as a whole. Many other things may be found out by the in- 
quisitive mind and success awaits the boys and girls who can 
keep good accounts when they become farmers 

Fact Accurate accounts show sources of profit or loss 

Words to be defined 

invest estimate truck crops debit credit 

analyze eliminate source expansion 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic The farm wood lot 

2 Aim To learn of the production and use of wood on the farm 

32 



3 Home questions 

a What are the uses of wood on the farm? 

b What kinds of lumber are cut in this town? 

c What kinds of trees grow in this locality? 

d What are some of the products other than lumber from 

the forests? 
e At what period of year is it easiest to find time to work in 

the wood lot? 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Seasonal home project work 

Every teacher should have a copy of farmers' bulletin 

586 and have children collect specimens of woods 
b Clippings and note- book work 

Have children make clippings on the wood lot 
c Picture charts experiments etc 

Have children make picture card using Farmers' 

bulletin 173 358 715 

5 For reading and study 

"The farm wood lot" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Second December Lesson 
The Farm Wood Lot 

Many many times we hear disgruntled farmers criticizing 
farming saying there is no money in farming. Very often it is 
a poor business manager who says this. Every business man 
knows that the majority of enterprises must keep the labor em- 
ployed the whole year around. The care of the wood lot is one 
way to provide winter work 

There are many places on the farm that make good wood 
lots. Low wet places steep hillsides and small irregular tracts 
of land may be made to produce certain if not immediate re- 
turns. The demand for the wood that these places will provide 
is ever increasing because of the losses of wood elsewhere 
through fires insects diseases close cutting and the wasting of 
the timber that is cut 

The products of the wood lot are many depending upon 
what is grown. Every farmstead needs posts poles firewood 
and lumber for buildings. At the same time the wood lot may be 
a source of beauty and value provide shade for animals and 
furnish food and protection for birds. Many other uses may be 
made of the wood lot oil of sassafras spruce gum sugar syrup 
nuts and paper stock are products of the forest 

The demand for wood will regulate the planting of a forest. 
Such woods as maple elm oak locust ash fir basswood hickory 
walnut box elder yellow poplar pines and catalpas are among 
the most widely planted 

In starting the forest seeds may be planted or trees may be 
set. Whenever a planting is to be made the advice of the state 
forester should be secured 

Some of the returns may come soon after growth starts. 
The first cutting may be used for fuel barrel hoops broom "or 
rake handles or rustic furniture 

33 



Other means of winter employment may be found but the 
wood lot deserves careful consideration and no farmer should 
find an excuse for a winter's "loaf" 




Knolls on which timber may possibly be the most profitable crop 

Fact Land not adapted to agriculture should be planted to wood 
Words to be defined 

disgruntled enterprise post pole state forester 

fuel rustic 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Connecticut weather 

2 Aim To find things worth remembering about 

Connecticut ^weather 

3 Home questions 

a What should be the condition of the oak trees when corn 

is planted 
b What is the date of last killing frost in spring 
c What is date of first killing frost in fall 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

"The farm wood lot" 

b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on weather observations 
and keep record of temperature and direction of wind 
at 9 a m 12 m and 4pm for a week 

5 For reading and study 

"Connecticut weather" Readings in Agriculture Gardening- 
Third December Lesson 
Connecticut Weather 

Most every boy and girl delights in being a good weather 
prophet. This is a very worthy and profitable aspiration if one 
is to be a successful farmer 

Each spring the young gardener is wondering as to when to 
plant his beets or his beans. Many of the books tell him the 

34 



middle of April or the middle of May. If the season is late or 
early either date may be wrong. What is he to do then? Old 
Dame Nature is probably his best advisor in that case. Every 
one knows that the trees seldom get leaved out until all danger 
of injury by frost is over 

When the plum and peach trees are in blossom or when the 
silver maples put forth their leaves it is time to sow in open 
ground the following things : lettuce radishes parsley beets 
turnips cabbage cauliflower carrots round seeded peas and 
onions. When the apple trees are in blossom and when dogwood 
buds unfold the heat loving plants such as -cucumbers beans 
sweet corn pumpkins and squash may be planted. A very safe 
rule to follow in planting corn is to wait until the white oak 
leaves are as big as squirrel's ears 

Occasionally there are irregularities that may cause con- 
siderable damage. Frost is the most common. There are dates 
after and before which frost seldom if ever occurs. These dates 
regulate the growing season. This is a period between the last 
killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the autumn. 
The general limits of it are from May ist to October ist. The 
specific limits are May 5th to October 8th. A killing frost 
means that the temperature falls below 32°. It does not mean 
occasional frost in low swampy places. Sometimes a cold wave 
or cold snap may come in the middle or last of May and cause 
a killing frost. In the fall this may occur about the middle of 
September 
Fact Natural phenomena are good indicators of seasonal progress 

Words to be defined 

weather prophet frost killing frost swamp 

cold snap 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic The types of soils 

2 Aim To learn to recognize the different types of soils 

3 Home questions 

a What are the types of soils? 

b What types are easiest to plow? 

c What types are hardest to plow? 

d What is the difference in the size of the soil particles 

e What soil do cabbages like? 

f What soil do beans like? 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

"Connecticut weather" 
b Clippings and note- book work 

Have children make clippings on farming on different 

soils 

5 For reading and study 

'Types of soils" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

First January Lesson 

Types of Soils 

After the bells of New Year's stop ringing every boy and 

girl is glad that a new year has begun and that in a short while 

it will be time to be digging the ground for fish worms or sowing 

35 



the first radishes. In the remaining days of winter consider- 
able time can be profitably spent reflecting about next spring's 
garden spot 

To grow good crops requires good soil. This soil is a good 
sandy loam. However we are not always fortunate enough in 
having the ideal soil. It may be that the texture is too fine or 
too course causing it to be too heavy or too loose 

But what is texture? By texture is meant the degree of 
fineness or coarseness of the particles. The finest will remain in 
suspension clouding the water for hours. This soil is called 
clay. The next coarsest is silt which will settle in about an hour. 
The sand and gravel will settle almost at once. The type of soil 
that you will have depends on which of these is in greatest 
abundance. When we have determined what the kind of soil is 
we can tell more about what it will do. Soils behave dififerently. 
Soil structure refers to the way soil behaves 

By soil structure is meant the way in which the particles 
adhere to one another. Clay is heavy dense clinging difficult 
to break and hard to plow. Loams and sands are not so ad- 
hesive. All soils tend to be more dense hard and resisting when 
they lack decaying vegetable or animal matter 

It is interesting to note what causes the difference in the 
way particles cling. Water surrounds each particle in a tiny 
film and when these films unite it causes the particles to cling 
together in clusters. The greater clinging power of clay is caused 
by the fineness of the films and the greater amount of surface on 
the particles. Sandy soils do not lump because the surface of 
the soil particles is not great enough in proportion to the bulk of 
the particle to supply the necessary films for binding 

These are important things to remember and should be kept 
in mind when we are studying soil moisture and how to improve 
soils 
Fact The types of soil are sand silt clay loam gravel and muck 

Words to be defined 

suspension silt particles dense film adhesive 
Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic The movement of water in soils 

2 Aim To learn the action of soil water 

3 Home questions 

a In which soils does water rise fastest 

b In which soil does water rise more slowly 

c Which soil dries out most quickly 

d Why do crops sometimes wilt more quickly on clay soils 

e In which type of soil does water drain through more 

quickly 
f In which type of soil does water drain through more 

slowly 
g Which soil warms up sooner in the spring 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on growing potatoes 

5 For reading and study 

"The movement of water in soils" Readings in Agriculture 
Gardening 

36 



Second January Lesson 

The Movement of Water in Soils 

Water is a very important factor in the growth of plants. 
How it acts and how it is controlled are very important things 
in the cultivation of the soil 

When you fill a lamp chimney with soil over the end of 
which has been tied some gauze to keep in the soil and then pour 
in water so that some runs out through the bottom the water 
that runs out is called gravitational water. Most of the water 
that soaks into the soil after heavy rains becomes gravitational 
water and is stored up deep down in the ground until the soil 
dries out and soaks it up 

The rate of rapidity with which this gravitational water 
flows through the soil varies with the different types of soils as 
we shall see later in the agriculture lesson. In sandy soils it 
moves through very rapidly and little is retained. Clay soil on 
the other hand lets the water pass through very slowly and it 
also retains much of it. Loam is intermediate between sand and 
clay in its action. It is found that by mixing humus with a sandy 
soil the water moves less rapidly through it and more is retainea 
while the reverse is true when humus is added to clay 

Not all of the water drains through the soil but remains 
clinging to the soil particles. As the soil dries out the water 
stored below is soaked up in the same manner as a blotter soaks 
ink. This soaking process is called capillarity 

As has been said less water remains clinging to the sand 
particles and hence the sandy soil holds less water than clay 

When the soils start soaking up the water by capillary action 
the water moves more slowly in the clay because in its climb it 
has a greater soil particle surface over which to climb. It climbs 
to a greater height also due to the fact that the arcs of film 
water between particles in the sand are so wide that the weight of 
the hanging water drops break them down 

The agricultural significance of the above things is im- 
portant. For early quickly growing crops the soil must drain 
out quickly yet water must rise rapidly to the crops when 
needed. Where this sandy piece of land is located is of great 
importance. If it is in a low place not high above the water 
table of reserve water below the water can easily climb the 
distance but if the piece is on a knoll the distance between the 
level of the stored water and the place where it will be needed 
is very great it will be doubtful if all of the water that the plants 
need will reach them. This may lead us to wonder why plants 
die for lack of moisture in the summer on some clay soils. It is 
simply because more water evaporates from the surface than can 
rise in a given length of time. These are very simple principles 
about a very common thing water but many important things 
can be traced back to simple reasons or principles 
Fact Lime increases the water holding capacity of sandy soil 

37 



Words to be defined 

gauge humus capillarity knoll evaporates soil 
Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic How humus affects soils 

2 Aim To learn how humus affects soils 

3 Home questions 

a Look up definition of humus 

b Why do decayed leaves improve the soil 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

"How water acts in the soil" 
b Clippings and note- book work 

Have children make clippings on fertilizing the soil 

5 For reading and study 

"How humus affects soils" Readings in Agriculture Garden- 
ing 

Third January Lesson 
How Humus Affects Soils 

Humus is a very uncommon word but a very important 
one in agriculture. No soil will produce crops without it no 
matter how much fertilizer is applied. Humus is a form of plant 
food but more important than that it aids certain very useful 
bacteria to live in the soil and also has some of the beneficial 
effects that lime has although it does not overcome an acid 
condition of the soil 

This very strange substance is no more or less than partly 
decayed animal or vegetable matter such as leaves old hay muck 
manure and animal refuse 

In the wild state of nature the leaves and bits of plants 
fall to the ground and keep the soil supplied with humus. While 
part of the humus is being taken up by the plants more leaves 
and refuse are falling and decaying. This has gone on for 
ages because nature has kept just the right balance 

However when man clears the land and grows crops he 
continually takes away the plants that grow on the soil and as a 
result no humus falls to the ground. After this has gone on for 
some time the soil gets hard so that it bakes and plants refuse 
to grow in it 

A careful farmer applies plenty of manure to his land to 
take the place of the crops that he has removed. When he does 
not do this he carefully grows some crop like rye and then 
plows it under always insuring that he has sufficient humus in 
the soil 

Fact Humus not only adds plant food to the soil but also improves 

structure and water holding capacity 
Words to be defined 

fertilizer lime acid 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic How lime affects soils 

2 Aim To learn the effect of lime in soils 

3 Home questions 

a What is lime 

b What are the kinds of lime 

c Why do farmers use lime on the land 

d What is the effect of lime on crops 

e What is the effect of lime on potatoes 

38 



4 Work for home or school activity 
a Clippings and note ibook work 

Have children make clippings on lime 
b Materials to gather 

Have children get samples of lime for inspection in 

class 

Each sample should be named as to kind of lime that 

is hydrated slacked air slacked caustic or ground 

lime stone 

Fourth January Lesson 
How Lime Affects Soils 

Lime is a very com-mon white powder that does not interest 
us unless we know much about how useful it may become 

Sometimes the soil is very sour and plants do not like this 
any more than little boys and girls like sour things. If lime is 
added to the soil this sourness is overcome. About one ton of 
lime to the acre will benefit the soil for about hve years. Not 
only will the large plants like the limed soil but the very tiny 
ones called bacteria which do a great deal of good are benefited. 
Certain other kinds of tiny plants such as cause club root on 
cabbages do not like this lime and die 

We can tell whether a soil is acid or not by taking pieces 
of blue litmus paper and placing them in the soil to be tested. 
If they turn red the soil is acid. One can sometimes tell when 
soil is acid by whether or not the coloring in cabbage leaves is 
red when the proper color should be blue 

Lime will also affect the particles of clay soil and the films 
of water about them so that the clay paricles have a more porous 
structure. This permits the gravitational water to flow more 
readily through it thus giving the roots of plants more chance 
to get air and making the soil warmer. This change in structure 
also makes plowing easier. The way that lime binds these 
particles together may be seen by pouring some lime water or 
lime powder into some muddy water. The granules will settle to 
the bottom of the glass and leave the water clear 

In sandy soil the particles are too loose so that water runs 
down through too rapidly and air moves freely through it. The 
lime also binds the particles of this soil together in groups in 
such a manner that the water is retained and the movement of 
air that dries out the soil is less 

One other important thing lime does is that it corrodes the 
soil and puts certain plant foods in such a form that they can 
be used by the plants 

Fact Lime overcomes soils acidity and improves soil structure 

Words to be defined 

litmus paper porous granules corrode 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Families of crops — the potato family 

2 Aim To learn special treatment of potato family 

39 



3 Home questions 

a Should potatoes be hilled 

b Should fertilizer be put under or over the seed 

c How often should potatoes be spra3xd 

d What insects trouble potatoes? How controlled 

e Are tomatoes hardy or tender to frost 

f Is it better to stake tomatoes or let them lie on the ground 

g How are tomatoes staked 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Composition 

How lime and humus affect soils 

5 For reading and study 

The families of crops — the potato family Readings in Agri- 
culture Gardening 

First F'ebruary Lesson 

Families of Crops — The Potato Family 

Vegetables like human beings belong to families and while 
each plant family may not all be artists or workmen the rela- 
tives have something in common that show relationship. It is 
always profitable to study the family traits of a plant as it may 
help us to better understand its cousins aunts and uncles 

The first family that we shall discuss is the potato family 
and in that family we shall consider first the potato. The potato 
is the only member of the family that can be planted early in the 
spring and will thrive in cool weather. Cut-pieces of the tubers 
each weighing about two ounces and containing two eyes arc 
planted in furrows three feet apart and with fifteen inches be- 
tween the pieces. The seed are placed in the furrow that should 
be four to six inches deep and there is drawn in about two 
inches of soil upon which is spread a good fertilizer at about 
the rate of i6oo pounds to the acre. As the potatoes grow out 
of the furrow the remaining soil should be drawn into the un- 
filled furrow to choke the weeds. It is all important that pota- 
toes be never hilled or mounded up. Level culture is the best. 
Potatoes must be sprayed with a fungicide and insecticide about 
every ten days until the tops die completely 

The best late variety of potato is the ''Green Mountain" 
and the best early variety is the "Irish Cobbler" 

Tomatoes are cousins of the potato but they are lovers of 
warm weather. The seeds are started under glass and the plants 
set in furrows in the open field after the last killing frost. In 
setting a deep hole should be dug so that the top of the plant is 
just level with the surface. Enough soil should be drawn into 
the hole to cover the roots. As the plants grow out of their 
holes the dirt can be drawn in and the buried stalks will start 
more roots. Fertilization is slightly lighter than for the potato. 
These plants should be set i>^ ft apart in rows that are 3 ft 
apart. The plants should be kept growing to two mam leaders 
and all suckers should be ''nipped out" of the axils or "crotches" 
of the leaves when small. Each leader should be tied to a four 
foot stake. In cultivating no hilling or mounding of the earth 
about the plant should be done. The vines must be sprayed the 

40 



same as the potatoes with a fungicide to kill bUght and also 
with the same insect poisons to kill the aphis and flea beetles that 
attack both. The best variety of tomato is ''Bonny Best" 

The second and more distant cousin is the egg plant another 
heat lover and victim to insect pests of the potato and tomato 

The tobacco is still another cousin 

Although not a member of the potato family the pepper 
should be considered along with this family as it is a heat lover 
and its needs are much the same as the potato cousins 





Tomato plants give best results when staked 

Fact Crops of the same family need practically the 
cultivation 



same care 



and 



Words to be defined 
furrow 



beetles 



fungicide insecticide flea 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Families of crops the cabbage family 

2 Aim To learn how to protect and raise cabbage family 

3 Home questions , , , uu 

a What plants are related to the cabbages 
b What diseases affect the roots of cabbages 
c What are the insects affecting cabbages 
d Find out the name of one variety of each member of the 
cabbage family 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

How to raise potatoes 
b Clippings and note 'book work 

Have children make clippings on vegetable crops 

' ^'flllefo^Xs the cabbage family Readings in Agricul- 
ture Gardening 

41 



Second February Lesson 
Families of Crops — Cabbage Family 

We must pay special attention to the cabbage family as club 
root (which is one of the worst diseases) attacks all members 
of the family and hence one member should not follow another 
on the same piece of soil for several years 

The same insects attack the whole family. In the spring 
tarred felt discs must be placed flat on the ground around each 
plant to prevent the root maggot from laying its eggs at the 
base of the plant. Another serious pest is the green cabbage 
worm which eats large holes in the leaves. Heavy sprays of 
arsenate of lead or Paris green will kill this insect. A new in- 
sect to attack the cabbage family is the aphid which can be 
controlled by combining nicotine with the arsenate 

The important .members of the family are cabbages cauli- 
flower kale rape Brussels sprouts kohlrabi and turnips. While 
kohlrabi and turnips are root crops they also are attacked in 
the same manner as other cabbage cousins 

All cabbages are lovers of cool weather and do best in the 
spring or fall. They are also partial to heavy clay loams which 
is very important because we are sometimes at a loss to know 
how to use the heavy spots of the garden 

A list of the best varieties of each member of the family 

follows 

Cabbage 

early Early Jersey Wakefield 

midseason All Seasons 

late Danish Ball Head 

Cauliflower Danish Dry Weather 

Dwarf Erfurt 
Snow Ball 
Brussels Sprouts Danish Prize 

Kohlrabi White Vienna 

Turnips 

early Flat White Dutch Purple Top Strap Leaf 

late German Sweet Rutabagas White Egg 

Turnips 
Kale Imperial Long Standing 




Plant protector 

Tarred felt plant protectors 

Plant Protector Company 

31 South Water Street 

Rochester N Y 

42 



Fact Crops of the same family need practically the same care and cul- 
tivation 

Words to be defined 

club root arsenate of lead sprouts maggot 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Families of crops the pulse family 

2 Aim To learn facts concerning the pulse family 

3 Home questions 

a Are peas hardy or tender to frost 
b Are beans hardy or tender to frost 
c Name variety of 

early dwarf peas 

midseason or late bush peas 

dwarf wax beans 

dwarf green beans 

pole wax beans 

pole lima beans 

bush lima beans 
• bush field beans 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on farm crops 
b Materials to gather 

Let the children collect all the varieties of beans that 
they can find. Have children send for seed catalogues 
Fottler Fiske Rawson Co Boston Massachusetts 
F W Eberle Co Albany N Y 
Stokes Seed Co Moorestown N J 

5 For reading and study 

"Families of crops the pulse family" Readings in Agricul- 
ture Gardening 

Third February Lesson 
Families of Crops — The Pulse Family 

The pulse family includes all those plants that have blossoms 
looking like little butterflies. One should pick a pea blossom and 
note this resemblance. Included in this family are the peas' 
beans and peanuts 

These plants are very important as they gather part of their 
food from the air. Living on the roots In small bunches or 
''nodules" are tiny bacteria which take nitrogen from the air and 
put It in a form that the pulse crops can use. All other classes 
of plants do not have this power and must get all of their 
nitrogen from the soil. The only nitrogen that we should give 
peas and beans is a little that the plants will need to get started 
In the spring 

Other than the peas this family is very tender to cool 
weather and frosts 

All of the pulse crops are planted In drills that are 28-36 
inches apart. Never should any hilling or mounding of earth 
about the plants be done 

43 



The best variety of each member of this family follow 
Peas 

dwarf early Notts Excelsior 
bush midseason Alderman 

or late Telephone 
Beans 

dwarf wax Wardwell's Wax Curries Rust Proof 

dwarf green Bountiful Refugee 

pole wax Wax Kentucky Wonder 

pole green Case Knife or Creaseback 

pole lima Leviathan 

bush lima Fordhook 

bush field Navy Yellow Eye 

Fact The pulse family is the only family to gather nitrogen from the air 
Words to be defined 

nodules nitrogen resemblance 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Families of crops other families and groups 

2 Aim To learn other family crops and groups* 

3 Home questions 

a What crops are related to the cucumber 

b Name varieties of each of these crops 

c What insects affect cucumbers and squashes 

d How combatted 

e What are the best varieties of onions 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

How to raise the cabbage family 
or 

How to raise peas and beans 
b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings of farm crops 

5 For reading and. study 

Families of crops other families and groups Readings in 
Agriculture Gardening 

Fourth February Lesson 
Families of Crops — Other Families and Groups 

In this lesson we will briefly consider other famiUes of 
plants the first being the vine or cucumber crops 

The vine crops are low growers that spread over much 
ground and grow only during warm weather 

The members of this family are cucumbers gourds squashes 
melons and pumpkins 

The same diseases such as the wilts and mildews attack 
all of these plants as do the same insects such as the squash bug 
which is a ravenous sucking pest and the cucumber beetle 

In saving seed it is important that the seed' be taken from 
plants that have been so separated from their cousins that there 
has been no chance for cross fertilization or mixing of pollen 

44 



The best varieties of this family are as follows 
Cucumbers Arlington White Spine 

Squash 

summer Yellow Summer Crook Neck 

winter Hubbard 

Pumpkin Sugar 

Melons 

musk Rocky Ford 

water Fordhook 

The next family that occupies our attention is the onion. 
Included in this family are the onions leeks garlics chives and 
shallots 

The most important onion varieties are as follows 
Yellow Danvers Yellow Globe 

Red Wethersfield 

White Southport White Globe 

Pickling White Barletta 

Multiplier White or Yellow 

Fact Plants of the same family are usually attacked by the same in- 
sects and diseases 
« 

Words to be defined 

ravenous beetle pollen fertilization 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Garden planning seed order 

2 Aim To learn how to make up a seed order 

3 Home questions 

a What crops do you wish to raise in your garden 

b What crops do you wish to raise to be eaten as soon as 

grown 
c What crops do you wish to raise for canning 
d What crops do you wish to raise that can be stored for 

winter 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Seasonal home project work 

Teachers should arrange to buy all vegetable seeds 
in bulk and divide up among pupils. This is more 
satisfactory than buying 5^ packets of questionable 
local supplies. Orders should be sent as soon as 
possible 

b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on any garden topic 

5 For reading and study 

Garden planning seed order Readings in Agriculture 
Gardening 

First March Lesson 

Garden Planning — Seed Order 

The vegetable garden so far as possible should supply the 
needs of the family. The practicabihty of doing this depends 
of course on many things but chiefly on the size of the garden 
and the number in the family. In a general way it is possible to 
estimate the needs in advance and to m.ake up the seed list" 
accordingly 

45 



Here is a table that shows the amount of seed needed to 
supply a family of four with vegetables throughout the year 
bean 



bush lima 

pole lima 

snap 
beet 
cabbage 

early 

late 
carrot 
celery- 
corn sweet 
cucumber 
eggplant 
kale 
lettuce 



Pt 



1 
1 " 

1 qt- 
4 oz 



2 qts 



1 pkt 
^.oz 
1 oz 

1 pkt 

1 pt — 2 pts 

1 oz 

1 pkt 

2 oz 

i oz 



onion sets 


4-6 qts 


pea garden 


4-6 " 


parsley 


1 pkt 


parsnip 


i oz 


radish 


1 oz 


spinach 




in spring 


i lb 


in fall 


i lb 


squash 




hubbard 


1 oz 


summer 


1 " 


tomato 




early 


1 pkt 


late 


i oz 


turnip 


2-3 " 



It IS not supposed that any family will use all the vegetables 
listed nor will all families require the same amount of any crop. 
The pupil should select his seed from this list and make success- 
sive plantings 

The individual tastes of the family must be taken into con- 
sideration. Also those crops in which freshness is important 
such as peas beans corn asparagus must not be overlooked. 
Such specialties as okra and parsley that are hard to get should 
be included. Due consideration must be given to the crops for 
canning and for storage 

Fact Write all orders for supplies in a complete and legible manner 
Words to be defined 

vegetables crop successive plantings 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Mapping out the garden 

2 Aim To learn to make a garden map 

3 Home questions 
a List the root crops 

List the vine crops 
List the tall growing crops 
List the drill or continuous row crops 
List the hill crops 

How far apart are carrots beets and turnips planted 
How far apart are corn potatoes beans and peas planted 
Why is it a poor practice to have a crop follow the same 
crop on a piece of land for two years in succession 
i What are the quick growing crops 
j What are the slow growing crops 
Work for home or school activity 
a Seasonal home project work 

Leaves hay manure pieces of turf and vegetable 
refuse should be piled up and moistened so that it 
will rot. About every week the pile should be forked 
over. This material when partly decayed will be 
called humus 

All children should make final selection of their 
garden plots if not already done 
b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on spring garden work 

46 



5 For reading and study- 
Mapping out the garden Readings in Agriculture Garden- 
ing 



Second March Lesson * 

Mapping Out the Garden 

Among boy and girl gardeners the making out of the 
garden plan is the most important thing during the garden year. 
And the second important thing is carrying out the plan. A garden 
that is planted helter-skelter is unattractive and consequently 
no one takes an interest in it and it is neglected 

The location must be first selected. It must be near the 
house have the proper soil and have plenty of sunlight and no 
shading from trees or buildings 

A plan is a valuable thing to keep for future reference as 
a gardener is able to tell what is needed from his experiences 
of former years. Sometimes it is best to make a garden plan 
large enough so that notes can be written between the lines. 
Once the notes are written in it will be seen where crops have 
grown and where they should not be grown for several years. 
This plan should include the names of the main companion and 
succession crops rotations dimensions and distances apart of 
crops 

The main crops are those that occupy a strip of land the 
whole or greater part of the season. Companion crops are those 
that are grown between the main or succession crops and are 
harvested before the latter need all of the land. Succession 
crops are those that are planted on the same land from which 
others have been harvested. Successive planting should be made 
of some crops of vegetables that is dividing a row up to be 
planted in sections at different dates so that the harvest may be 
prolonged 

In making the plan a list of vegetables should be gone over 
and then grouped according to their habits of growth and the 
cultural methods needed 

The next step is to draw the lines to represent the rows. 
The rows of root crops should be 14-18 inches apart and the 
rows of field crops 28-36 inches apart. Between the rows of 
main crops there may be room to grow companion crops such 
as lettuce between carrots radishes between beets early turnips 
between cucumbers early string beans between corn lettuce be- 
tween cabbages winter squash between corn. Some of the main 
crops may be harvested early enough to plant succession crops 
and the names of these should be written on the main crop line 
in the diagram in brackets. The low growing crops should be 
planted on the south side of the garden 

47 



The following lists may be helpful in planning out the main 
and succession crops 

1 Crops occupying the ground all season 

4 

asparagus salsify egg plant rhubarb 

peppers beets late cucumbers onions (seeds) 

melons leeks squash okra 

carrots late pumpkins parsnips tomatoes 

corn late beans pole lima beans pole snap rutabagas 

potatoes main crop 

2 Successive crops 



radish 
kohlrabi 


peas turnips 
lettuce parsley 


spinach 
beans dwarf 


3 Early 


crops which may be followed by 


others 


onion sets 
carrots early 


turnips early corn early 
cabbage early 


beets early 


4 Late ■ 


crops which may follow others 




beets late 
kale 
cabbage late 


spinach peas late 
endive flat turnips 
brussels sprouts 


celery 
cauliflower 



It is a very important thing to keep a record of the dates on 
which each crop is planted. This can be done by writing it in 
brackets under line representing each particular crop 

In planting rotation of crops whether the rotations be dur- 
ing the same or in succeeding seasons certain general principles 
should be kept in mind. In type and character of growth the 
succeeding plant should differ as widely as possible from the 
plant which it follows. This is both for the purpose of avoiding 
attacks by insects and diseases and to insure that the second 
crop shall be properly nourished. A good plan is not to have 
root plants such as beets and carrots nor plants of the same 
family such as cabbage and brussels sprouts or tomatoes and 
peppers follow each other. It is well to divide the plants into 
root crops fruiting crops and foliage crops and have members 
of the different groups alternate 

Fact Plan the garden to avoid shading and to group plants of similar 
nature. Make long straight rows all running in one direction 

Words to be defined 

helter-skelter reference dimensions succession crops 
foliage crops 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Seed testing small seeds 

2 Aim To learn how to test small seeds 

48 



3 Home questions 

a Find reasons why seeds sometimes fail to come up 

b Find what farmers test their seeds 

c Find how they test their seeds 

d How do methods vary for large and small seeds 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Seasonal home project work 

All children should test their seeds. Testers should 

be made and used in school. Test out any old seeds 

left over from last year 
b Clippings and note-book work 

If possible have children make clippmgs on testmg 

seeds 
c Picture charts experiments etc 

Have children make picture chart from F B 428 253 

5 For reading and study 

Seed testing small seeds Readings in Agriculture Garden- 
ing 

Third March Lesson 

Seed Testing — Small Seeds 

Every year a large acreage of land is planted with seeds so 
poor in germinating quality that partial or complete failure of 
the crop is the result. Seed testing however is very simple ana 
a number of practical home made germinators are here described 

The plate germinator is made from two pie tins or dinner 
plates and some absorbent material such as blotting paper 
coarse wrapping paper or cloth. In the bottom of the tins or 
plates place several layers of the absorbent material wtt it 
thoroughly and scatter on it the seeds to be germinated, it 
plenty of absorbent has been used it wiU not be necessary to 
place a paper or a cloth over the seeds. Invert the second plate 
over the first as a cover and see that the edges fit closely m order 
to make a moist chamber. This is a good germmator for oats 
wheat barley grass and clover seeds or corn 

For small seeds such as grass or clover an ideal germinator 
can be made with a piece of glass a glass tumbler and some 
blotting paper. Cut two pieces of blotting paper so that they 
will just fit inside the tumbler. Lay these on top of each other 
on the piece of glass wet them thoroughly and scatter on the 
top the seeds to be germinated. Invert the tumbler over the 
blotting paper and set the germinator in a warm place As a 
rule no more water is needed but if the blotting paper becomes 
dry a little can be added. This type of germmator interests 
children because they can watch the germmation as it progresses 
from day to day 

49 




TWO TYPES OF HOMEMADE SEED GERMINATORS 

On the left a germinator made by inverting a glass tumbler over two or three layers 
of wet blotting paper placed on a piece of glass. On the right a place germinator 
with blotting paper in the bottom as an absorbent 




^P^ 

\^^^^ 



A SAWDUST GERMINATOR 

A tin box with sawdust in the bottom and a sawdust pad in 
the top. This is _a very convenient germinator for 
schools as it can be carried about 



Fact Test seeds to find their germinating power 

Words to be defined 

germinating absorbent germinator 



50 



Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Seed testing large seeds 

2 Aim To find ways of testing seed corn and other large seeds 

3 Home questions 

Find out ways of testing seed corn 

4 Work for home or school activity 
^ a Seasonal home project work 

Every child should test his father's seed corn either 

at school or at home 
b Clippings and note book work 

Have children make clippings on garden preparation 
c Picture charts experiments etc 

Have children make picture charts from Farmers' 

bulletin 818 

5 For reading and study 

"Seed testing large seed" Readings in Agriculture Garden- 
ing 

Fourth March Lesson 
Seed Testing — Large Seeds 

All boys like to do things and here is a way they will find 
how to do something very useful and that is how to make a 
good seed corn tester. A convenient tester and the kind strongly 
recommended for every farmer to use is shown in the picture. 
It consists of a wooden tray about two inches deep two and a 
half feet long and two feet wide strung with light fence wire one 
and three-quarter inches apart each way and an inch and a half 
above the bottom and filled up to the wires with moist sand. The 
cross wires permanently mark off the surface of the sand into one 
and three-quarter inch squares. Each square serves to hold the 
kernels to be tested from a single ear. If much corn is to be 
tested several of these testers should be provided. They are 
easily made and with good care will last for many years. For 
the average farmer one will be sufficient as about three bushels 
of seed ears can be tested at one time 

When making tests some convenient system of arranging 
the ears on a rack table or floor must be employed, so that the 
ear corresponding to a certain square in the tester may be readily 
located. The test should be made with about five kernels per 
ear as shown in picture and they should be taken from various 
parts of the ear. One should look out for elevated or swollen 
spots when selecting kernels for the test because wherever these 
occur the cob is probably more or less spongy and retained 
moisture after the rest of the ear was dry and out of danger 
of being injured 

After the kernels have been placed the material in the tester 
must be kept thoroughly moist. Sand is preferred because it is 
clean and easily kept in good condition. The kernels should be 
pressed well into the sand but they need not be buried out of 
sight. The important thing is to keep them thoroughly moist. 

51 



Some kind of cover for the tester must be provided so as to keep 
the surface from drying. A couple of panes of window glass 
make the most satisfactory cover. With the glass cover the soil 
needs to be moistened only once for each test as the evaporated 
moisture will condense on the under surface of the glass and 
drop back on the soil. The cover should not fit too closely as 
the germinating kernels must have quite a lot of air. When 
moistening is necessary after the kernels have been placed a 
towel or other cloth should be spread on the surface and the 
water poured gently on top. If this is not done the water poured 
on will move many of the kernels out of place 



li 






\ 






^BBIH^I^iiHHIilBB 




|| 


f :. 
1^ 






1 






I ^ 


O- ■ ■ ■■,-- . ■ ■•;■.,.,:;-.„...-:,,,.,, .- ■,. . • .- 


....J 



A filled tester ready to be covered and set aside for germination 

The filled tester should be placed in a room where the tem- 
perature ranges around 70° F but not too near the stove. The 
ordinary Hving room is about right provided that it does not 
become colder than 55° during the night. All kernels which do 
not send out vigorous root and stem sprouts within four or five 
days under these conditions should be considered as too weak 
to germinate properly under ordinary field conditions and the 
ears from which they came should be discarded 

Fact The replanting of a corn-field is often caused by planting untested 
seed 

Words to be defined 

tester temperature condense 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Preparing the garden use of fertilizer 

2 Aim To learn how to fertilize the garden 



52 



3 Home questions 

a What kinds of plant food should be applied to the garden 
b Kow much of each should be used 

c What kinds make many leaves , , ^, . ^^. 

d What kinds make good roots and good growth of seed 

i">arts 1 ■ J J 

e What kinds of plants take nitrogen from the air and need 

little of this element in the fertilizing 
f How much lime should be applied and how often 

4 Work for home or school activ.t\ 

a Composition 

How to test seeds 
b Seasonal home project work 

The compost pile of humus shou. . ue spiead over me 

garden plot 
c Clippings and note-book work r ., • 

Have children make clippings on feri:li/.. . 
d Materials to gather • i f«. 

Have children collect samples of commc:\-:.J. ter- 

tilizers and put in bottles 

5 For reading and study • v ■ 

Preparing the garden uses of fertilizers Readings in Agri- 
culture Gardening 

First April Lesson 

Preparing the Garden — Use of Fertilizer 

The food that plants use are the fertilizing materials that 
are given them. The kind and amount of fertilizer that is given 
a plant will determine what will be the character of the plant 
grown If too much nitrogen food such as nitrate of soda i^ 
I ven the plant will grow thrifty leaves which may be desired n 
the case of such crops as lettuce spinach and swiss chard, it 
stront growth of riots such as beets carrots parsnips and 
urnips'is desired and if growth of -^d parts such as tomatoe^ 
squash and beans is the end to be reached °^ff .!^^^^^, ^ .^^^^ 
amount of phosphate and potash must be used^ It is not W 
easv to cret just the right amounts of foods of the right kmas 
'eacVplant becausel.ome gardens are often too smal to cal 
for different mixtures. If much leaf growth is made where 
oots and seeds are desired the gardener should be abk t^tf^ 
what is the matter. At other times /^^^j^^^^^\f;^;\°J^. ^'^L^ 
enough and here again the gardener should be able to teU which 
food is not in large enough amount 

We learned in the lesson "How humus affects the soil'' that 
some form of decaying matter must be continually supphed as it 
is a part of the food for crops. In the home garden leaves may 
be raked in the fall and piled up to rot. Old ^ ay or straw 
garbage and manures may be added to this pile l^^^king it very 
rich After some of the crops are oft the land m the late fnll 
some rye may be sown on the garden to be turned under to make 
decayed matter 

53 



The following are the good fertilizer mixtures t'd use. 
Choose the one that is easiest to obtain never forgetting the 
need of supplying humus in some form 

1 10 pounds nitrate to 1000 square feet (5 pounds at planting and 
5 broadcast and raked in) and 30 pounds acid phosphate 

2 1 ton manure and 50 pounds acids phosphate to ICOO square feet 

3 5 pounds commercial fertilizer (containing 3-5% nitrogen 8-10% 
phosphoric acid) to 100 square feet 

Fact A garden is properly fertilized when it has sufficient plant food 
humus and the soil is free from acid 

Words to be defined 

nitrate of soda thrifty broadcast acid phosphate 

phosphoric acid commercial fertilizer 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic How to prepare the seed bed 

2 Aim To learn how to prepare the seed bed 

3 Home questions 

a Find out how to tell when the soil is ready to prepare 

b Find out which soil is easier to prepare sand or clay 

c Which can be prepared the earlier 

d Which can not be prepared soon after a rain 

e How is manure applied to the land 

f How is lime applied to the land 

g How is fertilizer applied to the land 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Seasonal home project work 

Depending upon the season gardens should be broken up 

soon after the first of April 

A unit garden should be started in some person's 

back yard near the school for purposes of observation 
b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on spring garden work 

5 For reading and study 

"How to prepare the seed bed" Readings in Agriculture 
Gardening 

Second April Lesson 

How to Prepare the Seed Bed 

One very wise old farmer said "A crop well planted is half 
grown" and he was right. Too much care can not be taken in 
preparing the seed bed 

When the peepers are heard in the spring soil preparation 
should start. Soil preparation should have begun last fall by 
forking in plenty of old leaves or manure. What day is chosen 

54 



in the spring to do the digging will depend on how moist the soil- 
is. This can be found ottt by moulding a few balls of earth with 
the hands. If the earth falls apart readily it is dried out suffi- 
ciently to prepare 

The manure or rotted leaves applied in the spring should be 
spread over the garden and as each furrow is spaded it should 
be distributed over the side of the overturned earth in the fur- 
row. This will insure its being evenly distributed through the 
ground. As the land is spaded all stones sods and rubbish 
should be raked back into the bottom of the furrow. All clods 
of earth should be broken up 

After spading is finished a coat of lime and the commercial 
fertilizer should be broadcasted and carefully worked into the 
soil by raking 

Fact A well prepared seed bed is loose and smooth 

Words to be defined 

peepers sods spade 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic How to plant seed 

2 Aim To learn how to plant seeds 

3 Home questions 

a Find dates for plantnig cabbage radishes potatoes tur- 
nips onions 
b Find dates for planting beets lettuce carrots parsnips 

spinach peas corn 
c Find dates for planting beans tomato plants 
d Find dates for planting lima beans cucumbers squash 
e What is date of last killing frost in spring 
f What is depth for planting small seeds? 
g What is depth for planting large seeds such as corn and 
beans 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

How to prepare the garden for planting 

b Seasonal home project work 

Groups 1 and 2 can be planted by this d.dtc in normal 

seasons 

See next lesson 

c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on how to raise differ- 
ent vegetables 

5 For reading and study 

How to plant seed Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Third April Lesson 
How to Plant Seed 

In our lesson in the winter on ''Connecticut weather" we 
learned how to determine the proper times for planting. It is 
well if we study more carefully the group to which each crop 
belongs 

Group I Consisting of early cabbage plants from hot bed 
or seed box radishes onions early smooth peas early potatoes 
turnips and mustard. The crops may be planted two weeks be- 
fore the last killing frost 



Group 2 Consisting of beets parsnips carrots lettuce sal- 
sify spinach wrinkled peas cauliflower plants celery seed pars- 
ley and sweet corn. These crops may be planted about the date 
of the last killing frost 

Group 3 Consisting of snap beans okra and tomato plants, 
These crops should be planted two weeks after danger of frost 
is over 

Group 4 Consisting of lima beans pepper plants eggplant 
cucumbers melons squash and sweet potatoes. These crops 
can not be planted until all danger of frost is over which is 
about four weeks after the last killing frost 

Find out the usual date of the last killing frost in your town 

After having decided when each crop may be safely plantecf 
it is necessary to plant them at the proper depth. The larger 
seeds such as peas beans and corn may be planted by making 
shallow hills or furrows with the hoe and covering them with 
two inches of soil. Small seeds such as radishes and lettuce 
must be buried only i^ inch to }i inch deep. The furrow for 
these may be made by simply laying the rake handle on the 
ground and pressing it to the required depth. These planting 
depths are for the spring or damp weather. In the summer when 
the soil dries out more they should be planted more deeply 

The amount of seed will depend on the germination test of 
the seed. However slightly more seed should be planted in 
order that in thinning part of the plants may be removed and 
only the strongest left 

In succession planting the ground should be respaded and 
raked before the new planting of seed 

Fact Start early to kill the first insects. Birds are the best insect de- 
stroyers 

Words to be defined 

inevitably implements concentrated solutions 

dilution parasitic kerosene emulsion 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Control of diseases 

2 Aim To learn how to control plant diseases 

3 Home questions 

a What diseases damaged vegetable crops last year 

b Describe appearance of diseases 

c How could these diseases have been prevented or com- 

batted 
d How is potato scab controlled 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Seasonal home project work 

When cut worms start to do damage put a table 
spoonful of poisoned bran mask at base of each to- 
mato plant or broadcast as fertilizer when for other 
crops 

b Clippings and note-lDOok work 

Have clippings made on garden cultivation also dis- 
eases 

5 For reading and study 

"Control of diseases" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

56 




Fig. 1 — Outline map of the United States, showing zones based upon the average date of 
the first killing frost in the autumn. The lastest safe dates for planting vegetables in the 
autumn are determined by the dates given on this map. 

LATEST PLANTING DATES 
Latest safe dates for. planting vegetables for the fall garden in the zones* shown in figure 1 



Crop 



Bean 

Bush 

Pole Lima. 

Beet . . 

Cabbage 

Carrot 

Cauliflower. . . . 

Celery 

Chard Swiss . . . 
Corn Sweet ... 

Cucumber 

Eggplant 

Kale 



Lettuce 

Melons 

Muskmelon. 

"Watermelon . 

Okra 

Onion 

Seed 

Sets 

Parsley 

Parsnip 

Pea 



Zone C 



Peppers . . . 
Potatoes 

Irish . . 

Sweet . 
Radish . . . . 
Salsify.... 
Spinach. . . 
Squash 

Bush., 

Vine . . 
Tomato. . . 
Turnip . . . . 



Sept 15 

do 

do 
Sept 1 

do 

do 
Oct 1 
Sept 15 
Aug 15 

do 
July 15 
Nov 1 

do 

June 15 
July 1 
July 15 

June 15 
July 15 
Nov 1 



Nov 1 
July 15 

Aug 15 

do 
Oct 15 
June 15 
Oct 15 

Aug 15 

July 15 

Aug 15 

Oct 15 



Zone D 



Sept 
Aug 
Sept 
Aug 15 

do 

do 
Sept 

do 
Aug 

do 
July 
Oct 
Oct 15 

June 

July 

do 

June 
July 
Oct 



Oct 
July 

Aug 
July 1 
Oct 
June 
Oct 

Aug 
July 
July 15 
Oct 1 



Zone E 



Aug 15 
July 15 
Aug 15 
July 15 

do 

do 
Aug 1 
Aug 15 
July 15 

do 
June 15 
Sept 15 
Oct 1 

May 15 

June 15 

do 

May 15 
June 15 
Sept 1 
May 15 
Sept 1 
June 15 

July 15 
June 15 
Sept 15 
May 15 
Sept 1 

July 15 
June 15 
July 1 
Sept 1 



Zone F 



Aug 1 

July 1 

Aug 1 

July 1 

do 

do 

do 

Aug 1 

July 1 

do 

June 1 

Sept 1 
Sept 15 

May 1 



June 1 

May 1 

June 1 

Aug 1 

May 1 

Aug 1 

June 1 

July 1 

May 1 

Sept 1 

May 1 

Aug 15 

July 1 

June 1 

June 15 

Aug 1 



Zone G 



July 15 



July 15 
June 15 

do 

do 
May 15 
July 15 
June 15 



Aug 15 

Sept 1 



Apr 15 
May 15 
July 1 
Apr 1 
July 15 



June 15 



Aug 15 
Apr 15 
Aug 1 

June 15 
July 'is' 



*Zones A and B are sections in which many vegetables are planted late in the fall to 
form the winter garden or early spring garden. 



57 



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Fourth April Lesson 
How Different Plants are Multiplied 

Not all plants are grown from seeds as are radishes lettuce 
beets and carrots. It has been found easier and quicker to use 
other methods and the resulting plants will be more certain of 
bemg exactly like their parents of which they are a part 

The potato is grown not from seed but from pieces of 
tubers. These pieces are scientifically called "cuttings." By 
using cuttings we are always sure to get potatoes exactly like the 
ones we planted because there has been no pollen brought from 
one plant to another 

When we wish to create new varieties of potato we gather 
the seed balls from the tops where the flowers grew. These 
seeds are the result of the mixing of pollen from the separate 
plants of dift'erent characteristics and the plants grown from 
these real seeds will have some of the charactersitics of both 
parents probably part Green Mountain and part Russet. The 
new potato would be neither Green Mountain nor Russet but 
if it is a desirable one we can give it a name and then perpetuate 
it by planting cuttings of the desired tubers 

Sweet potatoes are grown dift'erently. The potatoes are 
packed in beds and as the sprouts start they are picked off and 
transplanted. This is called root propagation 

Rhubarb is multiplied in another way. The roots are dug 
up in the spring and broken apart in such a manner that each 
piece has at at least one bud on it. These separated pieces are 
then planted. This is called crown division 

Fact Use the method of multiplying plants that is quickest and most 
profitable 

Words to be defined 

cuttings new varieties seed balls 

perpetuate root propagation crown division 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic How to control insects 

2 Aim To learn how to control insects 

3 Home questions 

a What insects attacked last year's crops 

b What was the damage done 

c What poisons w^ere used for each 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Seasonal home project work 

In setting out cabbages use tarred felt discs to repel 
root maggots ABC plant protectors 

b Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make insect clippings 

c Materials to gather 

Have specimens of insects brought in for next lesson 
in order that mouth parts may be examined 

5 For reading and study 

"How to control insects" Readings in Agriculture Garden- 
ing 

60 



First and Second May Lessons 

How Diseases are Controlled and Insects Combatted and the 
Help Given Us by Birds 

Unfortunately the gardener is not assured of success when 
his plants have started to grow thriftily. He must count almost 
mevitably upon the presence in his garden of plant diseases and 
pests which if not combatted will interfere seriously with his 
yields or even destroy his plants. It is hard for some gardeners 
to realize the importance of making early provision to combat 
these enemies of plant life. It can not be too strongly emphasized 
however that such provision is of equal importance with other 
phases of gardening and that it should under no circumstances 
be neglected. The wise gardener does not wait for the appear- 
ance of insects and diseases but takes steps to combat them by 
spraying the plants at reasonable intervals from early spring 
until his crops have been harvested or by other protective 
measures. He thus insures himself against the likelihood of loss 

The necessary implements and materials for protecting the 
home garden against insects and diseases should be assembled 
early in the season. These consist of a substantial hand sprayer 
and the necessary concentrated solutions which after dilution 
with water are to be sprayed on the plants 

The diseases which affect garden plants may be divided into 
two groups parasitic and constitutional diseases. The parasitic 
maladies such as the blights are caused by fungi or germs and 
usually may be prevented or controlled by spraying with Bor- 
deaux mixture. Little is known however of the so-called con- 
stitutional diseases and little can be done to prevent their rav- 
ages. If some malady which does not yield to treatment with 
Bordeaux mixture manifests itself on isolated plants in the 
garden it may be well to pull up these plants and burn them 

The insects which attack garden plants may be divided into 
two groups — those which eat or chew the fruit or foliage and 
those which suck the plant juices. Eating insects may be killed 
usually by spraying poisonous solutions or dusting powders on 
the plants which they attack. Arsenate of lead is the poison in 
most general use for this purpose. This substance is poisonous 
to persons as well as to insects and must be used with care. It 
should not be applied to vegetables that are to be used soon. All 
vegetables should be washed carefully before they are eaten 
regardless of whether they have been sprayed 

Most of the garden plants may be guarded against disease 
and at the same time protected from attack by eating insects by 
spraying at intervals of two weeks with a combination of Bor- 
deaux mixture and arsenate of lead 

Other methods of protecting plants from the larger eating 
insects are to pick the pests by hand or knock them with a stick 
into a pan containing water on which a thin film of kerosene is 

61 



floating. Insects collected by hand should be destroyed promptly. 
Young plants may be protected by setting over them wooden 
frames covered with mosquito netting wire mesh or cheesecloth. 
Cutworms may be kept from plants by setting tin or paper collars 
into the ground around the stalks 

Sucking insects such as plant lice can not be killed by 
poisoning the surface of the leaves and fruit since they feed by 
puncturing the plants and extracting the internal juices. Poisons 
which will kill by contact or substances which envelop and 
smother the pests are therefore employed against the sucking in- 
sects. ^ The principal remedies of this sort are nicotine solutions 
fish-oil and other soap solutions and kerosene emulsion 

The following table lists the insects most likely to appear 
in the vegetable garden and furnishes information in regard to 
the plants attacked and the treatment recommended: 

Principal insects and remedies.^ 



Insect. 



Eating type 

Tomato worms. . . 
Cabbage worm . . 
Cucumber beetles. 



Cutworms 



Potato beetle 

Sucking type 
Squash bug . 



Aphids (plant lice) 



Plants attacked. 



Tomato 

Cabbage group 
Cucumber .... 



Treatment. 



Tomato cabbage onion. 



Potato eggplant and to- 
mato 



Squash pumpkin melons 
etc 

Cabbage group and other 
plants 



Hand pick or spray with arsenate of lead 
Hand pick or apply arsenate of lead 
Cover with frames. Apply tobacco dust 

or spray with Bordeaux mixture or 

arsenate of lead 
Apply poison bait place tin or paper 

collars around plants hand pick apply 

Paris green or arsenate of lead 

Hand pick and apply arsenate of lead 

Hand nick spray with kerosene emulsion 

or nicotine sulphate 
Spray with kerosene emulsion a solutiom 

of hard soap or nicotine sulphate 



Gardeners desiring additional information in regard to insects affecting the vegetable 
garden should apply direct to the Bureau of Entomology United States Department of 
Agriculture but it should be understood that there is no publication covering the entire 
subject. Specimens of insects with some account of food plants and ravages should accom- 
pany correspondence. 

Boys and girls have good friends to help them in this battle 
against insects. These friends are the birds. The Bobwhite that 
whistles so clearly about the meadows feeds upon all the potato 
beetles squash bugs and grasshoppers that he can find. The 
cuckoos destroy many of the harmful caterpillars grasshoppers 
beetles and moths. Red headed woodpeckers nighthawks bank 
swallows and grosbeaks also do their part 
Fact Plant diseases may be prevented never cured 

Words to be defined 

blight fungi parasitic maladies constitutional diseases 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Weeds 



62 



2 Aim 

a To learn why weeds are injurious 
b To learn how weeds are controlled 

3 Home questions 

a List the ways in which weeds injure vegetables 

b How often is hoeing necessary to keep down weeds 

c How often should a garden be hoed to keep a good mulch 

d Name insects that live on boih weeds and vegetables 

e How can weeds be kept down 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

How to control plant diseases and combat insect 

pests 
b Seasonal home project work 

Tomato plants may generally be set out this week 
c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on growing tomatoes 

and on canning 
d Materials to gather 

Children may bring weeds for discussion of names 

and habits of growth 

5 For reading and study 

Weeds Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Third May Lesson 

Weeds — Why They Are Injurious and How They May Be 

Controlled 

About this time of year is when weeds are beginning to 
attract our attention. Last fall we learned of many of the great 
damages that weeds do and how really useless they are. In this 
lesson we will learn of the great injury they do our vegetables 

Weeds are very vigorous growers. They are so vigorous 
that if they get an even start they will grow faster than our 
crops. We can not let them get this even start. If we plow our 
ground on the same day that the vegetables are planted they 
will start sooner than the weed seed that have just been turned 
up. If however the land has been lying idle for several days 
and the weeds have received a good start they should be hoed 
over and let dry out before the land is seeded 

Weeds need moisture as well as plants and when there are 
so many of them a great deal of soil water must go to supply 
their needs. We need however every drop of soil water for 
our crops and must kill all of these robbers of water 

Insects are not partial to vegetables. They attack weeds as 
well but this makes neither the weeds nor insects our friends. 
When we keep our vegetables free from insects the weeds pro- 
vide food and shelter ^for all these little pests. Because of this 
we should not only kill all weeds in the garden but kill all weeds 
that befriend insects near our gardens 

These trouble makers not only harbor insects but also cause 
many very injurious plant diseases 

63 



There is almost no end of things that weeds do. Some more 
of the troubles they cause are shading and choking of crops 

Good farmers never have weeds in their gardens because 
they hoe or cultivate at least once a week and after every rain 
and these frequent cultivations never let the weeds get started 
Fact Weeds waste soil water and shade the crops 
Words to be defined 

vigorous injurious cultivation insect weed 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Canning 

2 Aim To learn important facts about canning 

3 Home questions 

a VVhy are products canned 

b What products are canned 

c What is the open kettle method of canning 

d What is the cold pack method of canning 

e Make a list of the steps in cold pack canning 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

Weeds a cause of waste in the garden 
b Seasonal home project work 

Children should start canning especially asparagus 

and spinach 
c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on canning both fruit 

and vegetables 
d Picture charts experiments etc 

Have children make picture cards using canning 

bulletins issued by National War Garden Commission 

Washington D C 
e Materials to gather 

A canning demonstration should be held at close of 

session 

5 For reading and study 

Canning Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Fourth May Lesson 
Canning 

Not only from the standpoint of economy but also from the 
standpoint of health should vegetables and fruit be put up for 
winter use. The mineral salts and acids found in them together 
with the bulk they supply are essential to the w^ell being of the 
system. They supply necessary building material assist in keep- 
ing the blood in good condition and in regulating body processes. 
Fruit and succulent vegetables every day in the year should be 
the slogan of every housewife. As much as possible of this 
material should be grown in the garden plot and canned at home 

If canning is to be successful two things are essential 

1 The can and contents must be sterilized 

2 The cans must be hermetically sealed to prevent 
entrance of germs after sterilization 

64 



In the open kettle method of canning ordinarily used the 
sterilization presents the greatest difficulty. Cans having hot or 
even boiling water poured into them are not necessarily sterilized. 
In putting the material into the can there is a possibility that it 
becomes contaminated by the air in the room. If any air bubbles 
are allowed to remain in the can the germs in them may cause 
trouble. The spoon and other utensils used to put the material 
from the kettle into the can may introduce germs. These are 
some of the reasons that cans of fruit and vegetables put up in 
the ordinary way ferment and spoil. Occasionally the trouble is 
caused by using cans that are not air tight. As "the contents of 
the can cools contraction takes place and unless the top is tight 
the germ-laden air will be drawn into the cans and may cause 
spoiling. Testing cans takes a little time but it more than pays 
in the long run. To test cans fill partially with water put on 
rubber tighten cover and invert for several minutes. If the can 
leaks it can usually be remedied by changing tops or adjusting 
rubbers. New rubbers of the best quality obtainable should 
always be used. It is far cheaper to buy a dozen rubbers than 
to have one can spoil 

Acids and canning compounds are sometimes used by people 
to insure the keeping of products. The use of such things by 
canning factories is prohibited by law because they are detri- 
mental to health. Their use by individuals is equally as dan- 
gerous and at all times unnecessary and inexcusable 

Failures in canning may be reduced to a minimum by using 
the cold-pack process. In brief it consists of preparing the 
material packing it in clean cans covering it with syrup or brine 
and sterilizing the can and contents at the same time. Detailed 
directions for this are given later. If this method is followed 
and care taken to use new rubbers test the cans before filling 
regulate the time for sterilizing correctly no spoiling will be 
found. Some fruits and vegetables shrink leaving a space in the 
can. This need cause no alarm as the air in the can is sterilized 
and will do no damage 

Advantages of the cold-pack way 

1 Fewer spoiled cans. Can and contents are sterilized 
together and no germs are introduced afterwards 

2 Better flavor. Can is closed during sterilizing thus 
preventing the escape of flavoring substances 

3 More pleasing appearance. Material is not handled 
so much 

4 Less time and labor expended. One handling takes 
the place of two and the tedious part of the work is 
at the beginning rather than at the end 

65 



Steps in cold pack method of canning. By this method any- 
one can can any vegetable or fruit grown in his garden or orchard 

1 Select a sound product. Wash thoroughly 

2 Have a pan or pail of boiling water 

3 Place vegetables in cheese cloth dripping basket or 
colander 

4 Place in boiling water (after water reaches boiling 
point) and blanch according to time given later 

5 Blanching eliminates (a) objectionable acids and acid 
flavors. (A vegetable may look good but have an acid 
flavor. This is removed by this process), (b) during 
this blanching a certain amount of shrinkage takes place 
and the can will be fuller at the end of the processing 

6 Remove vegetables from hot water 

7 Plunge at once into cold water. This hardens the pulp 
and also checks the flow of coloring matter 

8 Have cans thoroughly clean but not sterilized because 
can and contents are steriHzed at the same time 

9 Pack vegetables into can leaving about ^ inch at top 
of can 

10 To each quart can add one level teaspoon of salt for 
flavoring and boiling water to fill the can within 34 i^ch 
of top 

11 Place rubber (always a new one) and lid. If a screw 
top is used use the little finger and thumb tightening. 
H a bale jar snap the bale only. When the contents of 
the jar heats steam forms and if the tops are too tight 
there is danger of the cans breaking 

12 Place filled cans on rack in wash boiler lard can or 
pail. Cover with hot water. Have the water come an 
inch above the top of cans. There will be some evapora- 
tion of water during the processing. The water should 
at no time be allowed below the rubber. The cans are 
not tightly sealed and air would enter. After the water 
reaches the boiling point process according to time table 
given later 

13 Remove cans from water at end of processing tighten 
the lid invert to test for leakage. Be careful not to let 
the can cool in a draft. The heat on the inside is so in- 
tense the room temperature so much lower they are 
easily broken 

66 







Time table 














Scald 


or 


blanch 


Process 


in hot 












water bath 


asparagus 




5-10 


minutes 


60 minutes 


beans (lima and 


string) 


5 






90 




beets 




6 






90 




corn 




5-15 






180 




tomatoes 




1-2 






22 




spinach 




5-10 






60 




other greens 




5-10 






90 




rhubarb 




1-3 






15 




cauliflower 




5 






60 





slogan succulent vegetables 

hermetically sealed 



Fact Successful canning depends on killing all bacteria in the can and 
keeping all others out 

Words to be defined 

economy mineral salts 
sterilized contaminated germ 

Assigrunent in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Thinning vegetables 

2 Aim To learn how to thin vegetables 

3 Home questions 

a Find out why vegetables should be thinned 

b To what distance apart should root crops such as carrots 
and beets be thinned 

c How many plants should there be to a hill of cucumbers 
or squashes 

d How many stalks of corn to a hill? Why would drilling 
corn be better than hilling? (In the small garden drill- 
ing is preferable) 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

How to can vegetables 
b Seasonal home project work 

Roll call at next lesson for number of cans of produce 

canned 
c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children make clippings on summer care of 

gardens 

5 For reading and study 

"Thinning vegetables" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

First June Lesson 
Thinning Vegetables 

When we plant garden seeds v^e generally sovsr them thicker 
than we wish the plants to grow. All seeds do not sprout and 
therefore we sow many of them to get the desired number of 
plants. Then when the seeds do sprout and grow the mature 
plants will require more room for development than the seedling. 
In order to give the best plants room enough we remove the 
others. This removal of plants is called thinning 



67 



Ill the case of most crops it is important to make the first 
thinning early enough to avoid disturbing the roots of the plants 
left in the soil. At first each seedling has only a few short 
roots but as it grows these roots become longer and reach out 
in all directions. If two seedlings are close together the roots 
will mingle with each other so that one plant can not be pulled 
up without breaking ofif many of the roots of the other. Such a 
breaking off of roots is liable to injure the plant left and to 
check its growth 

This early thinning is particularly important in the case of 
cucumbers and other vine crops. These plants are especially 
sensitive to the disturbance of their roots and if two are left 
close together until they are of good size it is difficult to pull up 
one without serious injury to the other 

The final aim of thinning is to give to each plant plenty of 
room in the soil for adequate root development and plenty of 
room above ground for its leaves flowers and fruits to mature 
successfully. There is a constant struggle among all plants for 
food moisture light and air. The more crowded they are the 
fiercer is the struggle 

The aim of the gardener is to give to each plant the most 
favorable conditions for growth. So he allots to each the space 
it needs to make the most of itself. If it is naturally a large 
plant he leaves the seedlings far apart and if a small one he 
leaves the seedlings nearer together thinning as may seem 
necessary for the best growth of each 

Fact Thinned vegetables have less competition for their needs 

Words to be defined 

seedlings adequate development liable 

Assignment for next lesson 

1 Topic Why and how to cultivate the soil 

2 Aim To learn how and why to cultivate and preserve dirt 

rhulch 

3 Home questions 

a Find reasons for hoeing 

b Lift a plant that has been lying on the ground 

How does soil differ from that around it 
c What happens when a pile of cut grass lies upon the lawn 

for a fortnight 
d What is the difference in color between footprints in soft 

mellow soil and the surrounding soil several days after 

tracking 
e From which soil is the sun able to drain more water the 

footprint or the other soil 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Composition Soil mulches 

5 For reading and study • » • i 

"Why and how to cultivate the soil" Readmgs m Agricul- 
ture Gardening 



Second June Lesson 
Why and How to Cultivate the Soil — Mulches and How to Use 

Them 

Every living thing needs water. This is as true of plants 
as of animals. In many regions the greatest trouble in keeping 
the crops growing through the summer is to get water enough 
for the plants 

In winter the soil gets saturated with water. As the days 
become warmer and the sunshine hotter this soil water begins 
to go off into the air — to evaporate as people say — just as 
steam comes out of the tea kettle when* you put it on the fire 

If the soil is not plowed or spaded in the spring the water 
evaporates rapidly and by early summer most of it is gone leav- 
ing the dry soil behind. Every time the ground is stirred it 
holds the moisture better and even a stirring of an inch or two 
of surface helps to save the soil water 

Did you ever lift up a board in summer and find that the 
ground was moist beneath it? The board has held the moisture 
so it could not escape into the air. You will find much the same 
condition under an old bag or piece of carpet lying on the 
ground or even a pile of leaves or straw left upon the garden 

When the boards or bags or old carpets or leaves or straw 
are thus left upon the soil surface each acts as a mulch. For a 
mulch is anything placed upon the ground to stop evaporation 
of soil moisture 

A mulch of any kind prevents evaporation. Soil moisture 
is continually coming to the surface and evaporating into the air. 
The moisture passes up through the soil in the same way that 
oil climbs the wick of a lamp. This movement of soil moisture 
is called capillary attraction 

This movement can not take place unless the soil particles 
touch one another. So it happens that if you stir the soil for an 
inch or two at the surface you get much air between the particles 
of soil and make a surface mulch without using straw or bags 
or anything but the soil itself 

A shower of rain will destroy this surface mulch and so 
after each showier it is necessary to prepare another mulch. 
Even if no rain falls there is generally sufficient dew to destroy 
the mulch after a few days. The maintenance of a mulch 
throughout the growing season is best for most garden crops 

Fact Stir the soil often to preserve a dust mulch and to prevent evapora- 
tion 

Words to be defined 

mulch saturated evaporate capillary attraction 

particles 

Xo assignment 

69 



First July Lesson 

The Summer Care of Tomatoes and Potatoes 

Summer is really here and the test as to whether we are 
good farmers or not will be determined by the care given the 
tomatoes and potatoes. It is easy to start a garden but it takes a 
good man to see it through 

There are five methods of caring for tomato plants during 
the summer. They are tying to two stakes tying to one stake 
horizontal trelling propping and spreading on the ground 

The last method is probably the most common and without 
a doubt the poorest. The plants are trodden under foot the 
fruits rot become dirty are eaten by pheasants ripen poorly 
and are harder to pick and the price of the crop is the lowest. 
Often times the plant sets more fruits than it can ripen before 
frost time 

The easiest way to get the plants from the ground is to make 
a frame using two barrel hoops nailed one above the other on 
three foot stakes. This frame is placed over the plant and the 
stems and leaves let hang over the hoops. This overcomes all 
of the disadvantages of letting the plants lie upon- the ground 
with the exception of letting the plant set too many fruit 

Market gardeners wish to overcome this matter of late 
ripening by prunning off the suckers and tying the plants up to 
a trellise of horizontal wires placed V/i feet apart. Few children 
have the wire or size of plot to warrant using this method so we 
will pass on to the one stake method 

In setting out a tomato plant it was noticed that the plant 
had one main leader. After this leader had grown to a con- 
siderable height it was noticed that in the crotches between each 
leaf and the stalks suckers or sprouts started. These sprouts 
differed from the sprouts that started on the bare stalk where 
there was no leaf crotch. These sprouts on the bare stalks were 
the fruit or blossom buds which must be saved 

In the one stake method all the suckers are nipped out of 
the crotches of the leaves when very small. The main stalk is 
then tied up to a six foot stake which is driven down beside each 
plant. Tying should be done with a soft but very heavy cord or 
twine. In making the loop around the stake and stalk care must 
be used so that the plant is not choked by a too small loop 

Many used the single stake method because it is easy and 
only requires one stake. However more fruit is produced by 
using the two stake method which is identical with the one stake 
method except for the fact that two stakes are used to each 
plant and one sucker is allowed to grow up and be tied to the 
second stake 

The highest quality tomatoes are grown by pruning and 
tying up. The yield from the two stake method is equal to that 

70 



r 



of letting the plants lie upon the ground because more fruit have 
a chance to ripen before frost 

Pruned tomatoes ripen earlier and are harvested when the 
price is the best and before the unpruned tomatoes come on the 
market. When pruned and unpruned tomatoes are on the market 
together the pruned bring a better price because of higher quality 

About the time pruning is done each plant should be given 
a top dressing of about Yi fire shovel of poultry manure to each 
plant. The earth should never be mounted or hilled up about 
the plants as it dries out the soil about the roots 

July is a very critical month for potatoes. The weather is 
either very wet or very dry and insects and diseases are ex- 
ceedingly troublesome 

Regardless of blossoming or time of year potatoes should 
be sprayed with Bordeaux once in every ten days to two weeks 
as long as the tops remain green. Home made Bordeaux is a 
great deal more effective than Pyrox. Directions for making 
can be found in the Farmers' bulletins issued by the United 
States Department of Agriculture 

The spray must be applied with high pressure in order that 
it makes a fine mist reaching all parts of the foliage. It is very 
important that an angle nozzle be used in order that the spray 
can be thrown on the under sides ot the leaves 

If lice are plentiful a good contact poison such as nicotine 
sulphate or Black Leaf 40 must be added to the Bordeaux spray. 
When potato beetles are numerous a good stomach poison such 
as Paris green or arsenate of lead should be added to the Bor- 
deaux to control them 

Cultivation during the summer must be carefully and thor- 
oughly done. Unless the land is very low and wet no hilling 
should be done. The surface must be cultivated once a week to 
preserve a dust mulch. As the season advances the cultivation 
must be very shallow in order that the roots and tubers will not 
be injured. Trouble may be encountered as the vines sprawl 
over the ground and are caught in the cultivator. The cultivator 
can be boarded over like a snow plow to prevent this injury 

Three hundred bushel crops are those that are sprayed and 
cultivated as long as the tops are green 

These summer months will prove as to whether local grown 
or northern grown seed produces the best crops. This can be 
judged in part by the number of missing hills 

Facts 

a The two stake method is best for pruning of tomatoes 
b Do not hill potatoes. Spray as long as vines are green 

Words to be defined 

trelling suckers pruning trellise crotches 

poison cultivator 

71 



Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Succession cropping 

2 Aim To learn succession cropping 

3 Home questions 

a What is best time to plant beets carrots and turnips for 

winter storage 
b How is a continuous supply of vegetables kept going 
c Name early crops and late crops that can follow early 

crops on the same land 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Get out succession chart 
b Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

Succession cropping Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Second July Lesson 

Succession Cropping 

Succession cropping is very important as it makes the land 
produce during the entire summer. Often early crops are har- 
vested and the land seeded to other crops to be harvested during 
the last part of the season. This is important not only because 
of using the land constantly but because the late planted crops 
are in the best condition in the fall for storing for winter 

Succession sowings or settings of beets carrots cabbage 
plants cauliflower plants radishes and turnips should be made 
in June July and August for winter storage. This is important 
because the early i)lanting are over grown and tough by the end 
of the summer 

It is also important that planting be made every few days 
in order that a continuous supply of vegetables can be had for 
use during the summer. A row of lettuce may be divided up 
into four parts one part to be planted each week 

In all replanting it must be kept in mind that the seed needs 
a good seed bed. To insure this the land should be respaded 
before each second crop is sown 

The following list is a suggestion of reseeding 
beets after early carrots 
carrots after early beets 
celery after spinach 
turnips after peas 
beans after peas 
celery after onion sets 

Facts 

a Succession plant to maintain continuous supply of vegetables 
b Replant to utilize land during the entire summer 

Words to be defined 

succession harvest reseeding respade 

row of vegetables 



Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Intercropping and companion cropping 

2 Aim. To learn intercropping and companion cropping 

3 Home questions 

a What crops are sometimes planted among the corn 
b Do pole beans ever grow elsewhere than on poles 
c Where are turnips planted when intended for fall harvest 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

"Intercropping and companion cropping" Readings in Agri- 
culture Gardening 

Third July Lesson 
Intercropping and Companion Cropping 

Intercropping is the art of growing early maturing crops 
between later maturing crops at a time when later crops do not 
need all of the room allotted to them or the growing of two 
crops together that do not interfere 

Lettuce can be intercropped between carrots provided the 
seeds of both are sow^n at the same time. Radishes also grow 
well between beets 

Companion cropping is the art of growing two crops to- 
gether so that they will not interfere. Pole beans may be planted 
in the same hills with sunflowers. Late turnips between the 
potatoes is also a good practice. Every one knows about grow- 
ing the squashes in the corn 
Fact Intercropping insures maximum use of land 

Words to be defined 

maturing crops allotted interfere 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Saving seeds 

2 Aim To learn how to save annual vegetable seeds 

3 Home questions 

a 'What is an annual plant 
b What plants are annuals 
c When and how secure bean lettuce and tomato seeds 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

"Saving seeds" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Fourth July Lesson 

Seeding Saving — Annuals 

There are two large groups of plants in which vegetables 
may be divided called perennials and annuals. The latter are 
the ones that mature seeds the same year they themselves are 
seeded. Vegetables that do this are beans corn cucumbers egg- 
plants lettuce melons okra peas pepper radishes spinach 
potatoes and tomatoes 

73 



In selecting seeds we should try to pick out the best in- 
dividuals and improve the varieties if possible. The earliest 
maturing plants should be marked as should also those having 
characteristics that are ideal for the type 

Beans peas and corn should mature and dry out on the 
plant. The peas and beans often contain weevils which bore 
holes through the seeds. These may be killed by fumigating with 
carbon bisulphide. The corn is generally left upon the ear 
and hung as described in one of the" fall lessons 

Cucumbers eggplants melons and tomatoes are left on the 
vine 'until fully ripe and then picked. Further ripening is de- 
veloped by letting the fruits lie in a warm sunny place. When 
they are very soft they are split open and the seeds scraped out 
into tumblers to -ferment. Fermentation lasts about two days 
after which the fermented pulp is beaten so that the seeds are 
free from the pulp. The seeds soon settle and the top which is 
pulp is poured off. One or two washings of the seeds will have 
them clean and ready to be spread out on cheese cloth frames 
to dry 

The pods are probably the easiest from which to secure 
seeds. Lettuce okra radishes and spinach simply mature their 
seeds where they grow and are picked and shelled when fully 
dried out 

Fact Seed saving is a means of improving varieties by selection and 

saves money in buying seeds 
Words to be defined 

perennials annuals variety pulp fermented 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Summer insects 

2 Aim To learn control of summer insects 

3 Home questions 

a What insects are damaging vegetables 
b What poisons are used for these insects 
c How are these poisons applied 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Materials to gather 

Specimens of insects which attack vegetables 
Specimens of vegetables injured by insects 
Samples of poisons 

b Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

"Summer insects" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Fact Plant seeds deeper in dry weather 
Words to be defined 

shallow furrows germination test 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic "How different plants are multiplied" Readings in 

Agriculture Gardening 

2 Aim To learn how plants are multiplied 

74 



3 Home questions 

a How are potatoes prepared for planting 
b What are potato ba]ls and what will they produce 
c Ho^\ can the number of rhubarb plants be increased from 
the number a person already has 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Composition 

How and when to plant seeds 
b Seasonal home project work 

If soil has been firmed over the planted seeds the 

ground should be hoed between the rows 
•c Clippings and note-book work 

Have children continue clippings 
d Materials to gather 

A boy should bring a rhubarb plant to school for next 

lesson to show crown division 

5 For reading and study 

"How different plants are multiplied" Readings in Agricul- 
ture Gardening 

First August Lesson 

Summer Insects 

The insects that cause the most trouble year after year are 
those such as the potato beetles worms caterpillars and cabbage 
worms all of which can be killed by spraying with arsenate of 
lead or Paris green. Considerable question has arisen about 
spraying cabbages. No trouble need result when it is remem- 
bered that the portion of the cabbage that is eaten grows on the 
inside and is never hit by the spray. A new insect that eats the 
bean leaves is controlled by any of the stomach poison. The 
insect damaging the tops of the peppers after some of the peppers 
are fully grown is combatted by dusting with hellebore another 
very effective stomach poison 

Sucking insects appear in varying numbers in different years 
but one must always be looking for them and preparing for their 
control. These insects will not eat the stomach poisons and 
must be killed by contact poisons which cause suffocation. Such 
poisons are nicotine lime dust and tobacco dust. It must be 
remembered that these poisons must reach the breathing pores 
of the insect to be effective. This will be difficult in the case of 
the plant lice on the under sides of the leaves. In such cases 
angle nozzles can be used to direct the spray 

Lime is sifted upon the plants through a burlap bag when 
the dew is on the plants. Insects on cucumbers and spinaches 
are most effectively controlled in this way. The lice however on 
these two crops must be controlled with the nicotine although 
when on lettuce a heavy dusting with tobacco is sufficient for lice 
Fact Stomach poisons kill chewing insects only 

Words to be defined 

lime dust nozzle nicotine 



Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Selling vegetables 

2 Aim To learn how to sell vegetables 

3 Home questions 

a How are different vegetables prepared for market 

b How are they measured 

c How are they graded 

d What is the reason for not putting the best vegetable on 

top 
e Why should you be honest in selling 

4 Work for home or school activity 

a Materials to gather 

See equipment Second August lesson 
b Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

"Selling vegetables" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Second August Lesson 
Selling Your Vegetables 

After your own home table has been supplied with all the 
vegetables that it needs you should sell your extra products as 
fast as they are ready for the market. Your home needs should 
be supplied first before you attempt to sell to your neighbors. 
If you raise enough vegetables to supply the needs of your own 
family you are doing a patriotic duty because in so doing you 
are making it posssible for other vegetables to go to hungry 
people 

You should not only supply your family needs and pay for 
the cost of your garden but you should make a neat profit on 
the vegetables you raise. Don't you think it would also be a fine 
idea to invest your vegetable profits in thrift stamps 

Most selling from our village or city gardens is done by 
peddling among our neighbors. This encourages thrift and busi- 
ness system on your part. It is a training that you boys and 
girls ought not to neglect. To sell your vegetables readily there 
are a few rules that should be followed 

1 Gather all vegetables when they are ripe and ready for 
the market. Do not pick half-ripe fruits choose only 
those that are ready for a quick sale 

2 Grade your vegetables according to size and quality. Do 
not have a mixture of large and small sizes and good 
and poor vegetables 

3 Make your display of fruit attractive. Customers will 
buy more quickly and pay more if the goods oiYered for 
sale look neat and clean 

4 Do not put the best vegetables on top while poorer ones 
are hidden beneath. It would be better to separate the 
kinds and sell them separately 

76 



5 Be honest. Do not claim for your goods what they will 
not show. Try to keep your customers by honest dealing 

6 Whatever boxes or baskets are used for seUing or dis- 
playing your vegetables make them attractive 

Build up a reputation for yourself for honesty and fair 
dealing 

Fact Honest selling is the best policy 
Words to be defined 

invest system attractive customer reputation 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Judging gardens 

2 Aim To learn how to judge gardens 

3 Home questions 

What are the things that must be considered in comparing 
gardens 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

"Judging gardens" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 

Third August Lesson 
Judging Gardens 

The judging of a garden is often more difficult than one 
supposes. A garden upon first sight may be pleasing to the eye 
and after a minute's study will present a very poor appearance 

The arrangement of the rows is of very great importance. 
They must be long very straight and far enough apart so that 
the crops do not crowd each other or cause undue shading 

Weeds detract from the general appearance. Lack of even 
small weeds shows a habit of neatness upon the part of the 
gardener 

At all times the surface soil must be loose and smooth 

Thinning adds greatly to the appearance. Crowded plants 
do not grow vigorously and fail to look neatly. Good thinning 
is important 

The choice of crops must be considered. Surely a whole 
garden of lettuce many miles away from a market would be 
sure to show poor judgment on the part of the gardener. 
There should be some crops for a fresh supply for the house. 
Provision should be made for a quantity for canning 

There should be evidence to show that insect pests have 
been controlled. The best evidence is having the crops entirely 
free of pests. Presence of spray material on plants influence the 
decision of judges 

The care in cropping shows the skill of the gardener and 
often the degree of profitableness of the garden. All of the land 

77 



should be growing something even if nothing more than a crop 
of rye to dig under the next spring as green manure. Com- 
panion and succession cropping must be carefully followed up 

Sometimes a judge never needs to see a garden to tell its 
quality. If he sees tools carelessly taken care of he can forp 
his own opinion as to what the gardener is doing. Shiftlessness 
in one thing is apt to indicate the same in other things. Clean 
well cared for tools are the signs of a thrifty and prosperous 
farmer 

Garden records carefully kept are the better guide posts to 
success and failure. They show the sources of gain and loss. 
Good accounts show good business ability good records are as 
valuable as good books because they are the history of personal 
experiences good or poor 

Fact A good garden provides food for the home food to can and food 
to sell 

Words to be defined 

judging detract shiftlessness thrifty prosperous 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic Seed saving 

2 Aim To learn how to save seeds of biennial vegetables 

3 Home questions 

a What is a biennial plant 

b What vegetables are biennial 

c How are beet and carrot seeds produced 

4 Work for home or school activity 

Home project directions 

5 For reading and study 

"Seed saving — biennial vegetables" Readings in Agriculture 
Gardening 

Fourth August Lesson 
Seed Saving — Biennials 

All plants do not mature seed the same year that they them- 
selves are planted. Some plants grow from seed one year live 
over winter and produce seed the second summer. Such plants 
are called biennials two year plants 

Biennial vegetables include beets cabbages carrots kohlrabi 
onions parsley parsnips rutabagas salisfy and turnips 

The care of these differ. The salsify parsnip and parsley 
may remain in the ground during the winter without injury and 
produce seed upon the identical spots where they themselves 
were seeded the year before. On the other hand onions must 
be carefully harvested and stored in a dry place during the 
winter after which they may be set out in open ground to mature 
seed 

78 



Beets carrots kohlrabi rutabagas and turnips are carefully 
dug and packed in moist sand where they will not freeze during 
the winter 

Cabbages must be carefully harvested with the root left on 
the head 

In selecting plants from which to grow seeds the same care 
must be taken as with annuals in the matter of choosing variety 
type and early rnaturity 

Fact Seed saving is a means of improving varieties by selection and 
saves money in buying seeds 

Words to be defined 

identical type mature seed 

Assignment in preparation for next lesson 

1 Topic The school fair . 

2 Aim To learn how to exhibit at the fair 

3 Home questions 

At discretion of teacher 

4 Work for home or school activity 

5 For reading and study 

"The school fair" Readings in Agriculture Gardening 



79 



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